170 SCAELET TANAGER 



Scarlet Tanager : Piranga eryihromelas. 



Adult male, whole body bright scarlet ; bill, wings, and tail 

 black ; under wings white. Adult female, upper parts light 

 olive ; wings and tail brownish ; under parts greenish yellow. 

 Young male and adult male in winter, similar to female, but 

 wings and tail black. Length, 7g- inches. 



GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION. Eastern North America ; breeds 

 from southern Illinois and Virginia to Manitoba and New 

 Brunswick ; winters in Central and northern South America. 



Whenever we hear a thin eek in a treetop, 

 though its maker is invisible, we can say with 

 assurance that a Grosbeak is 

 there ; and so, when we hear a 

 call of chip-churr in the green 

 leafy woods, we know that we 

 are listening to that most 

 Bill ofTanager. brilliant of North American 

 birds, the Scarlet Tanager. 

 It may or may not be an easy matter to find him, 

 for, though on the migrations he is often seen in 

 low bushes, his choice is usually for the massive 

 green treetops. His song is the best clue, for 

 it is a loud, swinging-pendulum song, like the 

 Grosbeak's, only less smoothly rounded, and by 

 getting its direction, as the bird moves about, you 

 can catch at least a passing glimpse of his glow- 

 ing coat and glossy black wings and tail. And 

 there are moments when a glimpse is enough. It 

 is all very well if alone in a leafy vale, with 

 nothing to do but dream under the enchanter's 



