TANAGERS: WESTERN TANAGER 
665 
part of the State it breeds in the Zuni Mountains, where at 8,800 to 9,000 feet on 
Mount Sedgwick it was fairly common, June 23 and June 24, 1909 (Goldman); 
[at Lake Burford, 7,700 feet, May 23 to June 19, 1918, it was fairly common (Wet- 
more).] In the south, in the Capitan Mountains, it was noted as common in the 
yellow pine belt, June 8-19, 1899 (Bailey); and was found abundant during the sum¬ 
mer of 1903, most common in the yellow pines at about 8,500 feet. Young about two 
weeks out of the nest were still being fed by the parents on July 10 (Gaut). [Young 
were seen 40 miles northwest of Grant, June 28, 1916. In the Black Range in Sierra 
County, on June 28,1920, three nests were found in Black Canyon from 7,500 to 7,800 
feet, in Douglas firs. It is rather common at Chloride in May and June, generally 
from about 7,500 to 8,000 feet (Ligon, 1916-1918).] 
They are known to be early migrants, having been found far south of the breed¬ 
ing grounds by the third week in July and probably somewhat earlier. [Observed in 
great numbers, June 21,1924, about 9 miles southeast of Taos, on the Taos-Cimarron 
Highway (Ligon).1 They were recorded at Cloudcroft on July 18, 1901 (Fuertes), 
and on July 23, 1909 (Green); the first fall migrants were noted at Apache July 26, 
1S86 (Anthony); Animas Peak, 8,000 feet, August 3, 1908 (Goldman); and Carlsbad, 
August 13, 1910 (Dearborn). The latter part of August and early September mark 
the height of fall migration, and by the end of September the species has deserted the 
State. The last one noted at Willis, in 1883, was on September 26 (Henshaw); at 
Cooney, September 15, 1889 (Barrell); at Ancho, in the Jicarilla Mountains, Sep¬ 
tember 23-24, 1903 (Gaut); Coyote Creek, near Black Lake, at 8,000 feet, September 
8, 1903 (Bailey); and Apache, September 26 (Anthony). 
On the return in the spring it is probable that a few enter the State the latter 
half of April. One was noted at Fort Wingate, May 1, 1887 (Shufeldt); the first was 
noted at Carlisle May 3, 1889 (Barrell), and at Rinconada May 3, 1904 (Surber). 
[They were observed in the Carson Forest, west of Tres Piedras, May 4, 1916, and 
were rather common in the Animas Mountains, May 7 and 8, 1920 (Ligon).] A 
specimen was taken at Silver City, May 15, 1912 (Kellogg). They were noted on 
the Upper Gila in May, 1914 (Rockhill). One was taken, apparently migrating, at 
Fort Wingate May 20, 1869 (Dr. E. Palmer); and others were seen at Silver City 
May 17, 1884 (Marsh).— W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —Usually on a horizontal branch of oak or conifer, 5 to 30 feet from the 
ground; made sometimes with a framework of forked twigs, and a few rootlets, moss, 
and coarse grasses, lined with fine rootlets and horsehair. Eggs: 3 or 4, pale 
bluish green, lightly spotted with browns and purples. 
Food.— From April to September (in California), 82 per cent was insects and 
about 18 per cent fruit. “When it assembles in large numbers in the fruit districts 
[in the spring migration] it is the cause of heavy loss to small fruit growers. Under 
ordinary circumstances, however, the greater part of its food consists of insects, 
many of them harmful. Two very harmful families of beetles, whose larvae are 
wood borers and do much damage to trees and other plants, are represented in the 
food. The planting of berry-bearing trees near the orchard would no doubt prevent 
much of the loss occasioned” (Henshaw). As the small wild cherry is preferred to 
the large cultivated one, it would be a good tree to plant, as would elderberry and 
cascara, as they are also eaten. 
General Habits.— The Western, Louisiana, or Crimson-headed 
Tanager, with his sharply contrasted red, black, and yellow plumage, 
is a conspicuous bird when seen in clearings or, in migration, on a 
roadside fence where, perhaps, he is looking eagerly for passing insects 
