Predation of summer tanagers has not been directly observed. However, summer tanagers have been seen reacting aggressively to blue jays, Cooper’s hawks, raccoons, squirrels and black rat snakes, suggesting that these are potential predators. Summer tanagers do mob predators, diving at them and calling vigorously. (Robinson 1996)
Summer tanagers are also known as beebirds, calico warblers, and crimson tanagers.
Summer tanagers communicate using vocalizations and physical displays. Male summer tanagers defend their nest site and territory by singing and chasing rival males, sometimes coming into physical contact during these chases. They also engage in counter-singing at the beginning of the breeding season. This is the practice of singing in response to neighboring males. Males attract mates by singing and chasing the females. Summer tanagers have a musical song unlike the buzzy songs of other tanagers. They also use several call notes to communicate (Robinson, 1996; Isler and Isler, 1987; Terres, 1980).
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
The North American breeding population of summer tanagers has remained relatively steady, and there are no pressing concerns for protection of this species. They are not protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but are protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. The most significant human impact on this species is probably destruction of breeding habitat. However collision with television towers during nocturnal migrations is also a significant source of mortality.
There are two recognized subspecies of summer tanager: P. r. cooperi in the west, and P. r. rubra in the east. (Robinson 1996)
US Migratory Bird Act: protected
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
There are no known adverse affects of summer tanagers on humans.
Summer tanagers eat insect species that some people consider to be pests, such as bees and wasps.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Summer tanagers affect the populations of the insects they eat. They also spread seeds of the plants whose fruits they eat. They host at least three species of external parasites, including a louse (Philopterus subflavescens) and two mites (Trombicula irritans and Sternostoma pirangae).
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
Summer tanagers are primarily insectivorous, eating a wide variety of flying and non-flying insects, such as beetles (order Coleoptera), dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera), grubs, cicadas (family Cicadidae), grasshoppers, ants (family Formicidae), caterpillars, weevils and spiders (order Araneae). They also eat fruits such as blackberries, whortleberries, mulberries, pokeweed, citrus and bananas, especially during the late breeding season, migration and on the winter range. However, the primary components of summer tanagers’ diets are bees (superfamily Apoidea) and wasps. They frequently attack wasp nests until the wasps abandon their nest, leaving the larvae for the tanager to devour. Summer tanagers occasionally capture food on the ground, but forage primarily in the tops of trees, where adult bees and wasps are caught in flight. Once prey has been caught, tanagers take the insect back to a perch and beat it against the perch until it dies. By wiping wasps on a branch before eating them, tanagers removes the stingers and other inedible body parts. (Robinson, 1996; Isler and Isler, 1987; Terres, 1980)
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: fruit
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Summer tanagers breed throughout the eastern United States south of southern Pennsylvania and northern Illinois, in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. They winter from central Mexico through northern South America, as far south as Bolivia and Brazil (Robinson 1996).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
In summer in the eastern portion of its range, summer tanagers primarily inhabit open woodlands of mixed oak and other hardwood trees. In the west, they live in riparian woodlands of cottonwoods and willows. They are also sometimes found in orchards, parks and roadside trees. In the winter, they continue to inhabit open woodlands, as well as tall secondary growth, gallery forest, forest edge, shaded plantations, and trees in parks and gardens along city streets. In Mexico, summer tanagers inhabit humid evergreen forest and tropical deciduous forest. Summer tanagers are typically found at low elevations, though they winter as high as 1800 m in Panama. (Robinson 1996; Isler and Isler 1987)
Range elevation: 1800 (high) m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural ; riparian
The longest recorded lifespan of a summer tanager is 5 years. There is very little information on survivorship and life span of this species (Robinson 1996).
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 5 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 95 months.
Summer tanagers are medium-sized birds, though rather large in comparison to other tanagers. They measure approximately 17 cm long and weigh an average of 30 g. Males are bright rose or orange-red throughout the year, and are distinguished from the scarlet tanager because their plumage is paler--not an intense scarlet--and because the summer tanager's wings and tail are red rather than black. Adult male summer tanagers have no crest. Females are olive above and orange-yellow below. They have conspicuous narrow yellow edging on their wing coverts. Some females develop complete male pigmentation as they age. Juvenile summer tanagers resemble adult females, but males often develop distinctive patches of red during the first winter.
There are two recognized subspecies of summer tanagers. The subspecies P. r. cooperi has paler plumage and is found in the western part of the range. The subspecies P. r. rubra has shorter wings, tails and legs and breeds primarily in the eastern part of the range. Robinson 1996; Isler and Isler1987; Terres,1980)
Average mass: 30 g.
Average length: 17 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry ; polymorphic
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes colored or patterned differently; male more colorful
Average mass: 40 g.
Summer tanagers breed once annually, and raise one brood per summer. They are serially monogamous, that is, they keep one mate throughout each breeding season, but not necessarily in successive seasons. Breeding pairs form soon after arriving on the breeding grounds in the spring, and split up after the young disperse late in the breeding season. Male summer tanagers arrive on the breeding grounds in full song, usually a few days before females arrive. Courtship begins with frequent, sudden, energetic chases of the female by the male. Males may also display before the female, carrying food items and hopping about. Little else is known about summer tanager courtship.
Mating System: monogamous
Summer tanagers breed once annually, and raise one brood per summer. They serially monogamous and sexually mature at one year of age. Breeding pairs form soon after arriving on the breeding grounds, and split up after the young disperse late in the breeding season.
Nest building begins 2 to 4 weeks after the birds arrive on the breeding grounds in spring. The nest is usually built out on a horizontal branch about 2.5 to 10.5 m from the ground. The female builds the nest alone, though she is often accompanied by the male while searching for a site and suitable nest-building materials. The nest is constructed primarily of dried herbaceous vegetation, and lined with fine grasses. There seems to be some regional variation in the quality of summer tanager nests; birds in the eastern range usually build flimsy and ragged nests, while the nests of summer tanagers in the western part of the range are sturdy and well-constructed. (Robinson 1996; Isler and Isler 1987; Terres 1980)
Egg-laying begins immediately after the nest is completed. The female lays 3 to 4 eggs that are smooth and somewhat glossy, pale blue or pale green, and spotted reddish brown. Incubation is carried out by the female only and lasts 12 to 13 days. During this time, the male spends a lot of time resting and caring for his feathers. In some pairs, however, the male feeds the incubating female, who may beg him for food. The chicks are fed by both parents after hatching, though males may do so indirectly by first giving the food to the female, who then gives it to the chicks. The young are fed primarily whole food, though some regurgitated food is also given. After 8 to 10 days, the young leave the nest, and by day 10, they are can make short, fluttery flights. The adults attend the young for 2 to 4 weeks after fledging. (Robinson 1996; Isler and Isler 1987; Terres 1980)
Breeding interval: Summer tanagers breed once annually.
Breeding season: Summer tanagers breed between April and August.
Range eggs per season: 2 to 4.
Average eggs per season: 3.5.
Range time to hatching: 12 to 13 days.
Range fledging age: 8 to 10 days.
Range time to independence: 2 to 4 weeks.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
Average eggs per season: 4.
The female lays 3 to 4 eggs, which she incubates for 12 to 13 days. During this time, the male may feed the female. Both parents feed the altricial chicks during the nestling stage, which lasts 8 to 10 days. The female also broods the chicks for at least four days after hatching. Both parents feed the chicks for 2 to 4 weeks after they fledge.
During the nestling stage, both parents sanitize the nest by removing fecal sacs. (Robinson 1996; Isler and Isler 1987; Terres 1980).
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)
A medium-sized (7-7 ¾ inches) songbird, the male Summer Tanager is most easily identified by its bright red body, wings, and tail. Female Scarlet Tanagers are green above and dull yellow below. Males of this species may be separated from male Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) by that species’ black wings and tail and from male Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) by that species’ black face and conspicuous crest, while females may be separated from female Scarlet Tanagers by that species’ darker back and paler breast. The Summer Tanager breeds across much of the southeastern United States north to the Mid-Atlantic region. Other populations breed in the desert southwest, California, and northern Mexico. In winter, Summer Tanagers migrate to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Summer Tanagers breed in a number of forest habitats, particularly in open woodland and forest edges. In winter, this species is found in a variety of open or shrubby habitats in humid tropical forests. Summer Tanagers mainly eat insects, particularly wasps and bees, during the breeding season, but may eat fruits and berries at other times of the year or when insects are scarce. In appropriate habitat, Summer Tanagers may be observed while flying out from perches to capture insects in the air or while robbing wasp nests for larvae. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a series of whistled notes recalling that of the American Robin. Summer Tanagers are most active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
A medium-sized (7-7 ¾ inches) songbird, the male Summer Tanager is most easily identified by its bright red body, wings, and tail. Female Scarlet Tanagers are green above and dull yellow below. Males of this species may be separated from male Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) by that species’ black wings and tail and from male Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) by that species’ black face and conspicuous crest, while females may be separated from female Scarlet Tanagers by that species’ darker back and paler breast. The Summer Tanager breeds across much of the southeastern United States north to the Mid-Atlantic region. Other populations breed in the desert southwest, California, and northern Mexico. In winter, Summer Tanagers migrate to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Summer Tanagers breed in a number of forest habitats, particularly in open woodland and forest edges. In winter, this species is found in a variety of open or shrubby habitats in humid tropical forests. Summer Tanagers mainly eat insects, particularly wasps and bees, during the breeding season, but may eat fruits and berries at other times of the year or when insects are scarce. In appropriate habitat, Summer Tanagers may be observed while flying out from perches to capture insects in the air or while robbing wasp nests for larvae. Birdwatchers may also listen for this species’ song, a series of whistled notes recalling that of the American Robin. Summer Tanagers are most active during the day, but, like many migratory songbirds, this species migrates at night.
The summer tanager (Piranga rubra) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae).[2] The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.
The summer tanager was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Fringilla rubra.[3] Linnaeus based his description on the "summer red-bird" described and illustrated by Mark Catesby in his The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands which was published in 1729–1732.[4] Catesby gave the location as Carolina, Linnaeus specified America; the type location is now South Carolina.[5] The summer tanager is the type species of the genus Piranga that was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1808.[6][7] The genus name Piranga is from Tupi Tijepiranga, the name for an unknown small bird; the specific rubra is from Latin ruber meaning "red".[8]
Two subspecies are recognised:[7]
Western race P. r. cooperi
South Padre Island, Texas
Eastern race P. r. rubra
South Padre Island, Texas
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P. r. rubra
Copán Ruinas, Honduras
_male_Copan_2.jpg)
P. r. rubra
Copán Ruinas, Honduras
Adults have stout pointed bills and measure 17 cm (6.7 in) in length and 29 g (1.0 oz) in weight.[9][10] Wingspan ranges from 28 to 30 cm.[11] Adult males are rose red and similar in appearance to the hepatic tanager, although the latter has a dark bill; females are orangish on the underparts and olive on top, with olive-brown wings and tail. As with all other birds, all red and orange colorations are acquired through their diet.
The summer tanager has an American robin-like song, similar enough that novices sometimes mistake this bird for that species. The song consists of melodic units, repeated in a constant stream. The summer tanager's song, however, is much more monotonous than that of T. migratorius, often consisting of as few as three or four distinct units. It is clearer and less nasal than the song of the scarlet tanager. The summer tanager also has a sharp, agitated-sounded call pi-tuk or pik-i-tuk-i-tuk.[12]
Their breeding habitat is open wooded areas, especially with oaks, across the southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa. These birds migrate to Mexico, Central America and northern South America. This tanager is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe.
These birds are often out of sight, foraging high in trees, sometimes flying out to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, especially bees and wasps, and berries. Fruit of Cymbopetalum mayanum (Annonaceae) are an especially well-liked food in their winter quarters and birds will forage in human-altered habitat.[13] Consequently, these trees can be planted to entice them to residential areas, and they may well be attracted to bird feeders. Summer tanagers build a cup nest on a horizontal tree branch.
{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help) The summer tanager (Piranga rubra) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.
