Re: more on Western Tanager

Kathy Klimkiewicz (Kathy_Klimkiewicz@usgs.gov)
Wed, 14 Oct 1998 16:16:12 -0600 

     I had the good fortune to handle a Western Tanager (young male) a 
     couple of weeks ago (in California). I really isn't that different in 
     size when compared to a Scarlet.
     
     Cheers,
     Kathy Klimkiewicz
     Laurel MD


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: more on Western Tanager
Author:  mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway
Date:    10/9/98 5:32 PM


David Abbott asked me to post this to MDOsprey.  
     
I didn't have a chance today to compare Kurt Gaskill's notes against either 
the Howell and Webb Mexican field guide or Pyle's Identification Guide to 
North American birds.  
     
However, I did notice that Howell and Webb list the lengths of Scarlet 
Tanager as 6.5-7 inches, Western Tanager as 6.5-7.2 inches, and Summer 
Tanager as 6.5-8 inches.  While Pyle says Western is smaller than other 
North American tanagers he gives these lengths for wings and tail: Western 
Tanager wing chord (from the "wrist" to the wing tip) 85-97 millimeters, 
tail 64-73 mm; Scarlet wing chord 86-101 mm, tail 62-72 mm; Summer Tanager 
wing chord 86-107 mm, tail 63-88 mm.  I don't know what to make of the 
differences between the two references as regards length of Scarlet and 
Western Tanager.  
     
I strongly urge anybody who sees this bird to write a description of what 
you see and send it to the Virginia Avian Records Committee.  
     
Best, 
     
Rob Hilton
robert@csa.com
Bethesda by day
     
>Hi,
>
>I don't subscribe to MD OSPREY.  Would you please pass this on?  Thanks. 
>David
>
>From the notes I've seen on the putative Western Tanager at Riverbend, I 
>will just say this.  I see nothing to indicate the bird was even a tanager, 
>much less eliminating warbler, oriole, etc.  Not to say that it wasn't a 
>tanager but this type of obvious (to the observer) notation helps the rest 
>of us handicapped by not being present.  Further, I suspect the "lime 
>green" mantle and scapulars do more to eliminate Western than help the 
>cause.  Westerns typically have a olive-gray saddle that encompasses the 
>wings and sets off the pale yellow rump and nape.  Wingbars are usually two 
>distinct colors: upper yellow, lower paler and whiter.  I often use the 
>green back and yellow rump contrast to identify Scarlets in the fall.  The 
>pure white underparts are difficult to incorporate into a Western claim as 
>well.  Western is small.  Although I find the Baltimore Oriole difficult to 
>confuse because it is long with long tail, I have in the past checked 
>reports of Western Tanagers in northern VA only to have them be Baltimores. 
>
>Having said that, if you believe the report accurate and the documentation 
>complete I would encourage it submitted to VARCOM....
>
>Best birding!
>
>David Abbott
>Ashburn VA
>dfabbott@compuserve.com
     
     
     
     
     
Rob (Robert) Hilton--robert@csa.com--Bethesda, Maryland, USA
     
Lal Waterson 1943-1998
"and you wonder why when your heart has died that your feet go stumbling on"