382 
SWALLOWS 
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 .06-.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. 
Fig. 470. 
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 .76-.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 cottonwoods 
of the lower levels, and migrates early in the fall. 
Fig. 471. 
FAMILY HIRUNDINIDiE : 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. 383. 
1'. Tail forked for less than length of tarsus. 
2. Under parts entirely pure white. Tachycineta, p. 385. 
2'. Under parts not entirely pure white. 
3. Tarsus with tuft of feathers above hind toe . . Rip aria, p. 386. 
3'. Tarsus without tuft of feathers. 
4. Wing with outer quill ---******z *z^^ . 
hooked in male, rough- , 
ened in female. * 
Stelgidopteryx, p. 387. Fi g- 472. 
4 . Wing with outer quill normal; forehead white, huffy, or brown. 
Petrochelidon, p. 383. 
