Photo: Vickie J Anderson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is a member of the Cardinalidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 28.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cardinalidae Cardinals & Allies
- Genus Piranga
- Species ludoviciana
Where it lives
Western, central Canada through western USA to extreme northwestern Mexico
Quick facts
- Weight
- 28.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes differ: the breeding male is bright yellow with black wings, back, and tail and a red head/face, while the female is dull yellow to olive-green with grayish wings, two pale wingbars, and little or no red on the head.
Juvenile appearance
Immatures resemble the female, duller and grayer, and lack the red head.
Breeding vs non-breeding
Non-breeding males are duller, with the red reduced to a faint reddish cast on the head and an olive tinge to the yellow body.
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Western Tanager is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is a member of the Cardinalidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA w, c Canada through w USA to extreme nw Mexico.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 28.1 g, with a wing length of about 9.5 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Tanager?
The Western Tanager is a small bird that weighs around 28.1 g.
Where does the Western Tanager live?
The Western Tanager is found across North America with a range covering NA w, c Canada through w USA to extreme nw Mexico, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Western Tanager belong to?
The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) belongs to the Cardinalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Western Tanager eat?
The Western Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Western Tanager migrate?
The Western Tanager is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Western Tanager endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Western Tanager make?
1 real field recording of the Western Tanager — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Tanager's range?
The Western Tanager has a mapped global range of about 3.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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