_Piranga erythromelas. Case 7, Figs. 27, 28_
The black wings and tail of the male will
distinguish him from our other two red birds--the
Cardinal and Summer Tanager. The olive-green
female may be known from all our other olive-green
birds by her larger size. L. 7-1/4.
_Range._ Nests from northern Georgia and southern
Kansas to Canada; winters in the tropics.
Washington, common T.V., less common S.R., Apl.
17-Oct. 15. Ossining, common S.R., May 4-Oct. 9.
Cambridge, rather common S.R., May 12-Oct. 1. N.
Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 28-Oct. 2. Glen Ellyn, not
common S.R., Apl. 30-Sept. 29. SE. Minn., common
S.R., Apl. 29-Sept. 11.
As a family Tanagers are the most strikingly colored of American birds,
but among the nearly 400 species none appears more brilliant in life
than the male Scarlet Tanager. The leaf-colored female is as difficult
to see as the male is conspicuous. Both have the same characteristic
call--_chip-chúrr, chip-chúrr_. The song suggests a Robin's but is more
forced and has a hoarse undertone. They live and nest in the woods,
building on a horizontal limb 10-20 feet up. The 3-4 greenish blue,
brown-marked eggs are laid late in May.