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WHITE-WINGED TANAGER  Spermagra (Piranga) leucoptera 13.5–14.5cm.

Humid foothill forest, adjacent clearings and second growth with taller trees.

Pairs and small groups glean in foliage at mid–upper levels, often with mixed

flocks. Smaller than Piranga with clean white wingbars on black (male) to dark

(female) wings, distinct voice. Cf. appreciably larger Flame-colored Tanager.

Juv. resembles female, male soon attains red to orange-red head and body

plumage. SOUNDS: Short series of (usually 1–5) high, slightly tinny upslurred

whistles preceded by quiet chip, t’sieh sieh, and variations. High, slightly liquid

chipping tik, may be repeated steadily; high spluttering twitter in flight. Song a

high, slightly squeaky short warble, 1.5–3 secs, such as si si-see-see chu. STATUS: Uncommon on both

slopes, mainly 1100–1800m, rarely to 2200m. (Mexico to S America.)

GENUS PIRANGA

^{(5 species; also see p. 400) Arboreal, boldly colored and patterned cardinalids}

favoring forest canopy, where easily overlooked if not vocal. For ID note overall plumage patterns and

colors, bill size and color, voice. Formerly treated as tanagers and sometimes considered to include genus

Spermagra, which differs in structure, habits, voice, juvenile plumage pattern, molts.

FLAME-COLORED TANAGER  Piranga bidentata 18–19cm. Foothill and

highland forest, especially with oaks; adjacent pastures and second growth with

taller trees. Singles and pairs forage quietly in canopy, at times with mixed

flocks. Distinctive, with dusky cheeks, whitish wingbars, dusky streaking on

back; also note relatively big grayish bill, cf. Western Tanager. Juv. (plumage

held briefly) paler than female, with dark streaking below; 1st-year male like

bright female, some with variable reddish wash and patches on head and breast.

SOUNDS: Hard rolled ch-t-ruk and p-terruk, much like Western Tanager but

slightly drier, sharper. Song comprises 3–5 burry phrases with unhurried,

slightly jerky cadence, such as chik churree chuwee, and variations. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon

on Pacific slope, from timberline down to 1000m, on Caribbean slope mainly 1800–3000m. (Mexico to

Panama.)

WESTERN TANAGER  Piranga ludoviciana 16.5–18cm. Winter migrant to

varied wooded and forested habitats, hedgerows, gardens. Singles and small

groups forage mainly in canopy, often at fruiting trees; sometimes joins mixed

flocks. Note pale bill, bold pale wingbars, unstreaked back, cf. larger Flame-

colored Tanager. Some imms. very drab overall, others bright yellow below.

SOUNDS:  Often quiet. Rolled ch-t-ruk, more staccato than spluttering call

of Summer Tanager, not as dry and sharp as Flame-colored Tanager.

STATUS: Uncommon to sporadically fairly common on n. Pacific slope Nov–

Mar, a few from Oct and into Apr; smaller numbers s. to Central Valley and

rarely s. along Pacific slope, to 2200m; very rare on Caribbean slope. (Breeds w. N America, winters

Mexico to Costa Rica.)

SCARLET TANAGER  Piranga olivacea 16.5–18cm. Transient migrant in varied

wooded and forested habitats, hedgerows, gardens. Singles and small groups

forage mainly in canopy, often at fruiting trees. Male distinctive, with contrasting

blackish wings; female smaller and smaller-billed than Summer Tanager, with

greenish-yellow vs. mustard-yellow plumage tones, blank lores. Rarely shows

narrow pale wingbars, cf. Western Tanager. SOUNDS: Often silent. Low clipped

chk, can be followed by burry whistled vrirr. STATUS:  Uncommon to fairly

common late Sep–Nov, especially on Caribbean slope; more widespread late

Mar–early May, mainly below 1800m; very rare in winter. (Breeds e. N America,

winters S America.)