SCARLET TANAGER 



Male — Scarlet with black wings and tail. Female and 

 young, olive green above and beneath; wings dusky. Length, 

 seven inches. 



Nest, in the woods, sometimes in an orchard, placed on a 

 limb ten to twenty feet from the ground, loosely made of twigs 

 and pieces of bark and lined with leaves of evergreens. Eggs, 

 usually four, dusky white marked with brown, .80 x .65 inches. 



This is on6 of the most brilliant birds seen in the United 

 States. Coming out of Central and South America where it 

 winters, this species spreads over the Northern States and 

 Canada early in May. Arriving in the North about the time 

 the trees put out their leaves and confining itself quite closely 

 to the thick woods, it would be difficult to -find this bird were it 

 not for its bright colors and its cheerful song which is much 

 like that of the Robin. 



The male precedes the female by ten days during which 

 time his call note of chip chur-r-r is constantly heard. Upon 

 the arrival of a possible mate, which he soon wins by his grace- 

 ful actions and cheery song, he retires to the deep woods, 

 where, a horizontal limb being chosen as a site for a nest, the 

 real business of bird life begins. 



Sometimes the three or four eggs of the Tanagers may be 

 increased by two or three from the Cowbird, that sly shirk of 

 family cares. Both parents join in feeding their young and 

 show great attachment to them. The, male, shy and timid at 

 all other times, will now expose himself to any danger in the 

 protection of his family. 



The olive-green dress of the female and the young birds 



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