494 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YOSEMITE 



The Western Tanager, often called Louisiana Tana^er in books, is 

 among the most conspicuous birds of the Yosemite fauna, combining as 

 it does brilliant coloration and unfearful disposition with a preference 

 for open portions of the forest. The male wears a liverj^ of bright yellow, 

 with a red head and black wings and tail, while his mate is garbed in dull 

 yellow and greenish brown. The species is so well represented on the 

 floor of Yosemite Valley and in the Canadian Zone forest on the slopes 

 adjacent that the tanager will usually be one of the first birds to gain 

 the visitor's attention after his arrival within the Park. 



The northward passage of the tanagers through the lowland and 

 foothill districts of California in late spring constitutes one of the most 

 conspicuous migratory movements among our birds. The brilliant color- 

 ation of the males and the distinctive call note of the species, so different 

 from that of any of the resident low zone birds, together serve to focus 

 the attention of even casual observers on this seasonal movement. Near 

 Lagrange on May 7, 1919, five or more Western Tanagers were seen during 

 an hour and a half in the blue-oak belt. On the slopes of Penon Blanco 

 the birds were moving through the greasewood chaparral on May 9, 1919, 

 and near Coulterville on the following day transient tanagers were notably 

 numerous. In 1915, at Pleasant Valley, about 10 migrants were seen 

 during a 5-hour census on May 24, and a single one was noted there on 

 May 30, while two were observed at Snelling on May 29, and one near 

 Coulterville on May 31, of the same year. East of the Sierras, at Walker 

 Lake, one tanager was seen May 9, 1916. Thus the spring migration is 

 known to occupy much of the month of May. 



During the summer season tanagers inhabit mainly the more open 

 portions of the forest. Their preference in Yosemite Valley seems to be 

 for black oaks and incense cedars, although they are seen in most other 

 trees as well. Numerically, the tanager is not an abundant species. Our 

 censuses show on the average one or two birds to an hour of observation. 

 Tn some localities the number is larger, but never up to that of the robin 

 or of the chipping sparrow. Of course there is a sudden doubling or 

 trebling of the tanager population in July when the broods of young leave 

 the nest. In late August, when cascara and other berry-producing shrubs 

 are fruiting, the tanagers often assemble in flocks numbering under a 

 dozen individuals, and this gathering of the birds is likely to give an 

 observer the impression of still further increase in numbers. It is not 

 unlikely that some of the tanagers from the Canadian Zone drop down 

 into Yosemite Valley before all depart southward. 



The Western Tanagers remain in the mountains of the Yosemite region 

 until some time in September. Single individuals were observed by us 

 at Walker Lake on September 13 and 15, 1915, and small numbers were 



