Photo taken at the Gardens May 18th by Richard Hubacek

A flash of red near the Display house yields a summer tanager, far from its natural range.

On Saturday, May 15th, visiting birder Jerry White spotted a flash of red along the tree-lined south boundary of the Gardens near the Display house. On closer examination he discovered a summer tanager, far from its natural range. Normally an eastern or southwestern bird, this is only the 7th record for Mendocino County and the 1st for the Gardens. Last year two summer tanagers were found at Lake Cleone and stayed around for some time. The photo by Richard Hubacek was taken on Wednesday, May 18th, so this one was at the Gardens for at least four days.

Because of its bright red color, this bird was an adult male; females are more greenish-yellow but can sometimes have red patches in their feathers. There are 2 subspecies: Piranga rubra cooperi which breeds in southern California east thru Texas and Piranga rubra rubra which breeds in the southeast up to 40 degree north. Summer tanagers winter in Central America and North South America. Their song is very robin-like but more buzzy or hoarse. Summer tanagers are noted bee and wasp eaters, as well as other flying insects, flying out to catch their food and then flying back to a branch. They do eat some fruit during the winter.

Thank you to Richard Hubacek for the photo and the information on summer tanagers.