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

10+ Animals Who Act Just Like They Star In Movies

Carolyn Mullet

Struck By A Motorcycle And Looks Lifeless, Baby Elephant Revives After Receiving CPR From A Rescue Worker

Margot Nolan

Rare Baby Zebra In Kenya Was Born With Spots Instead Of Stripes

Carolyn Mullet

Snow Leopards Love Nomming On Their Fluffy Tails

Carolyn Mullet

20+ Grumpy Animals That Turn Out To Be Incredibly Adorable

Carolyn Mullet

This Mum Gorilla Is Captured Tenderly Cradling Her Newborn Baby 1 Year After Losing Her First Child

Carolyn Mullet

Elephant Can’t Wait To Touch Her Trunks With Daughter And Granddaughter After 12 Years Apart

Margot Nolan

Meet The “Ugly Duckling” Ginger Seal Who Became An Outcast In His Colony For His Unusual Looks

Carolyn Mullet

Extremely Rare Black Black Flamingo Captured On Camera In Cyprus

Margot Nolan

Adorable Footage Of A Beluga Whale Helping Woman Find Sea-Dropping Phone And Return It To Her

Margot Nolan

Decked Out In A Suit Of Shimmering Neon Blues And Purples, This Jaw Droppingly Beautiful Bird Clings Onto Survival!

Carolyn Mullet

Weigh Less Than 2g And Wear A Stunning iridescent Coat, The Bee Hummingbird Is The Jewel Of Nature

Margot Nolan