WESTERN BIRDS Tanagers 



GENUS PIRANGA. 

 FAMILY— TANAGARIDiE. TANAGERS. 



The Tanagers belong to a family of bright-colored 

 tropical birds, only a few species of which stray into 

 America and that only during the summer. They are 

 so closely related to the Finches — having heavy bills — 

 that it is not clear to which family certain genera should 

 be referred. The males are gorgeously garbed while the 

 females are somber of plumage, her protective colora- 

 tion as she broods the eggs surrounded by leaves being 

 perfect. 



While as a race the birds are weak of voice, the best- 

 known ones in this country are pleasing singers that add 

 much to our summer woodlands, making us wish that 

 their stay might be prolonged. 



The bird found commonly throughout the east and 

 middle west is the Scarlet Tanager, which is not found 

 west of the Rockies ; the Western, or Louisiana, is rarely 

 found east of these high mountains; while the Summer 

 Tanager (Piranga rubra rubra) is a dweller of the 

 southeastern States, breeding from southeastern Ne- 

 braska, southern Iowa, southeastern Wisconsin, central 

 Indiana, southern Ohio, Maryland and Delaware south 

 to northeastern Mexico and central Florida; wintering 

 south of this country, 



A subspecies known as the Cooper's Tanager (P. r. 

 cooperi) is found in the southwest, breeding from south- 

 eastern California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, 

 and northeastern New Mexico, south. 



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