Western Tanagers descend on the Canon City Riverwalk

Western Tanagers migrate through the Canon City (5,400 feet) area in the spring on their way to sligthly higher elevation (about 6,000 feet+) nesting grounds in pinyon-juniper habitat in this area. Last week when I was in this habitat, I noted a number of these birds in juvenal plumage chasing adults around and begging for food.

Now many Western Tanagers are moving down to the Canon City area including the Riverwalk where they can load up on several species of scrumpuous berries before moving on towards their wintering grounds between Mexico and Costa Rica. See a photo of another male Western Tanager and another photo of this bird here

The male bird pictured here with its limited amount of reddish coloration around head area may be an adult in Definitive Alternate (breeding) plumage with just a small amount of red as there is a lot of variation in this species. Or it might be a first year bird in Alternate (breeding) I plumage.

SeEtta