We Love Animals
Animals Nature

Bright Yellow Belly, Orange-red Head, And Jet-Black Wings, This Tanager Is A Gorgeous Flying Ball Of Nature

Yellow, orange, red and black are conspicuous colors. They can blend harmoniously and also create striking contrasts. What will happen if these hues appear on a bird’s plumage? That creature will shine brightly in their colony. They look like gorgeous flying balls. Not only do lifelong birdwatchers fall for these birds but we, normal people, can’t also keep our eyes off them.

Image Credits: Instagram/blackbirdman

The western tanager is one of these captivating birds. They are widely known for their bright yellow belly, brilliant orange-red head, and jet-black wings and tail. Perfect contrast between the upper parts and lower parts!

Image Credits: Instagram/yellowstoneguide

You can watch the video of this stunning bird below!

Comparing with the male, the female of this species is much duller with a yellowish head, olive back, dark wings, and tail. Both have black eyes and legs.

Image Credits: JerryFriedman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Western tanagers are a medium-sized American songbird formerly in the tanager family. They distribute along the western coast of North America from southeastern Alaska south to northern Baja California, Mexico, and extend east to western Texas and north through central New Mexico and some other regions.

Image Credits: Instagram/blackbirdman

Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed woods across western North America from the Mexico-U.S. border as far north as southern Alaska.

Thanks to the very large range, the population of these intense-looking birds is stable.

Image Credits: http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ – http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ / CC BY-SA 3.0

They prefer living in or near open conifers or mixed forests where they feed mainly on insects, including wasps, bees, ants, beets, grasshoppers, termites, and cicadas. However, these tanagers also eat berries and fruit, like mulberries and elderberries.

Image Credits: Instagram/ljlthatsme

When the breeding season begins, the female of this bird builds her nest without the help of her mate. This nest is placed in a fork or a horizontal branch of a coniferous tree, such as pine or fir. It is at an altitude of 15-65 feet and is made from twigs, grass, rootlets, animal hair, and fine rootlets.

Image Credits: Instagram/estaciedc

She then lays 3-5 eggs in her nest and incubates them on her own for 13 days. Once the eggs hatch, she continues to feed the chicks until fully-fledged, about 13 days. Noticeably, the male joins the female in raising the hatchlings.

Image Credits: Instagram/trish_mountainmermaid
Image Credits: Instagram/timreaganphotography

H/T: One Big Birdcage

Related posts

Survey Finds 40% Americans Would Rather Give Up Their Pets Than Their Smartphones For A Month

Carolyn Mullet

Poor Foxes Were Rescued From A Fur Farm After Left To Starve Here

Carolyn Mullet

20 Pet Photos That Show Family Is The Best Thing Ever

Carolyn Mullet

15+ Bunny Pics That May Make Your Life A Bit More Easter-ish

Carolyn Mullet

Few-Day-Old Abandoned Lion Cub Was Saved And Builds A Special Bond With Her Rescuers

Margot Nolan

10+ Animal Panorama Fails That Are So Bad They’re Good

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Heartwarming Pictures That Will Instantly Save You From Sadness And Fatigue

Carolyn Mullet

20+ Pets Who Just Don’t Want To Leave Their Humans For A Minute

Carolyn Mullet

There Is No Rule In Nature, Proving In 30 Animal Photos

Carolyn Mullet

20 Pets With Vitiligo That Are More Awesome Than You Think

Carolyn Mullet

15+ Pets Who Found Their Own Ways To Show Their Love To Us

Carolyn Mullet

Pit Bull Can’t Hide His Happiness When Reuniting With His Dad After 6 Months Apart

Carolyn Mullet