Sunday, May 28, 2017

Summer Tanager


Spending the afternoon walking around Cheekwood Botanical Gardens was a treat today. It was such a beautiful day with blue skies and fluffy white clouds and plenty of sunshine. Very, very few visitors were at the gardens so I felt like I had it all to myself. I took a stroll to the Willis Perennial Garden which I have only visited one other time. As I approached the garden, I looked up finding myself face to face with a gorgeous red bird. No sooner than we had made each other's acquaintance, he flew away.


Taking note of where he flew off to, I walked over to the opposite side of the flower garden in his direction. He was already busy flying down, grabbing something and flying off to a branch nearby. I thought he was a Scarlet Tanager, but later discovered he wasn't. He was a Summer Tanager. A bird I will happily add to my Life List. I watched him intently drop down a second time and grab a bug and fly off to a nearby branch.


I read on All About Birds that the male Summer Tanager is the only completely red bird in North America. The female isn't red either, but rather she is a mustard yellow. Odd. Summer Tanagers migrate as far south as the middle of South America in Winter. What's so remarkable about these birds is how they literally catch bees and wasps 'on the wing' snatching them up without getting stung. I hope you enjoyed this bright spot in my day. And I hope you are having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Back soon.

11 comments :

  1. Stunning, every one!!!!

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    1. I love it when I'm surprised and this was a surprise. So beautiful. Carol

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  2. Thank you Felicia. So glad you stopped by. Carol

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  3. wat is hij mooi wat een kleuren.

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  4. AnonymousMay 29, 2017

    Wonderful, Carol! A life bird with great images. It doesn't get any better than that.

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  5. What a stunner. Glorious shots Carol.

    There are exceptions but many females are a totally different colour to the males.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Frank. He was a beauty. I would like to see the mustard yellow female too. Carol

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  6. Wonderful captures! Such a pretty bird.

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    1. He is stunning. Lucky to have that opportunity. Carol

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