382 



SWALLOWS 



Fig. 470. 



610. Piranga rubra (Linn.). SUMMER TANAGER. 



Adult male (summer and winter). Upper parts dull dark red ; wings 



and tail brownish red ; under parts vermilion or 

 poppy red. Adult female (summer and winter) : 

 upper parts plain yellowish olive ; under parts 

 dull yellow. Immature male : red mixed with 

 patches of yellowish green. Young male in first 

 autumn: like adult female, but colors richer, 

 upper parts more ochraceous ; crown, upper tail 

 coverts, tail, and edges of wing quills tinged 

 with dull orange. Male : length (skins) 6.40- 



7.20, wing 3.64-3.92. tail 2.80-2.94, bill .66-.76. Female : length (skins) 



6.50-7.20, wing 3.50-3.77, tail 2.62-2.91, bill .69-.72. 



Distribution. Breeds in Upper and Lower Sonoran zones in the eastern 



central United States, west to western Texas ; migrates to Cuba and through 



eastern Mexico south to Peru. 



Nest. In trees, 6 to 60 feet from the ground, made of weeds, grasses, 



leaves, and catkins. Eggs : 3 or 4. green, spotted with browns and purples. 



610a. P. r. cooperi Ridgw. COOPER TANAGER. 



Similar to rubra, but larger, with relatively longer bill, wing, and tail, 

 and under parts rose pink. 



Remarks. The Cooper tanager differs from the hepatic by the absence 

 of gray on the back and by the rose pink tone of its under parts. Male : 

 length (skins) 6.60-7.50, wing 3.66-4.18, tail 2.98-3.38, bill .72-78. Fe- 

 male : length (skins) 7.00-7.85, wing 3.80-4.02, tail 2.95-3.26, bill .73-.80. 



Distribution. Breeds from southwestern Texas to the Colorado Valley, 

 California, and from Arizona and New Mexico to northwestern Mexico ; 

 south in winter to western Mexico ; casually to Colorado. 



The Cooper tanager seems to be especially fond of the cotton woods 

 of the lower levels, and migrates early in the fall. 



Fig. 471. 



FAMILY HIRUNDINIDJE : SWALLOWS. 



KEY TO GENERA. 



1. Tail forked for more than length of tarsus. 



2. Tail forked for about half its length. 



Hirundo. p. 384. 



2'. Tail forked for less than half its length. 



Progne, p. 3S3. 

 1'. Tail forked for less than length of tarsus. 



2. Under parts entirely pure white Tachycineta. p. 3S5. 



2'. Under parts not entirely pure white. 



3. Tarsus with tuft of feathers above hind toe . . Riparia, p. 386. 

 3'. Tarsus without tuft of feathers. 



4. Wing witli outer quill ^^_^ aiaae ^ s ^rmm>m^m- n ^ . g5aeMan ^_ a<|[ 



hooked in male, rough- , ^p 



Hiied in female. 



Stelgidopteryx. p. 387. F 'g- 2. 



4'. Wing with outer quill normal ; forehead white, huffy, or brown. 



Petrochelidon, p. 383. 



