68 
BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
WESTERNTANAGER 
The Western Tanager is one of the 
handsomest of all the group. We have so 
many beautiful birds but there are few if 
any others who wear such gay colors; his 
dress is golden and white bars, his cape 
black, and his head dress orange or red. 
He is more beautiful than his eastern 
cousin the Scarlet Tanager. 
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Although arrayed in all this finery he 
does not go around showing off. Many 
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people do not even know he is here, for 
he loves the leafy tops of the tall firs. 
He sometimes slips slyly into the cherry 
trees, helps himself to some fruit; sings 
a few songs about it and then disappears 
among his loved firs. 
He is smaller than a Robin. There is 
a resemblance between their songs. Tan- 
ager’s music sounds to me like Robin’s 
would be if Robin were singing with a 
cold in his head. There is also a little dif¬ 
ference in the wording of their songs. 
. Tanager says, “Cheer up, cheer up, 
sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.” Robin says, 
“Cheer up, cheer up, clieer-eer.” 
