Western Tanager, Piranga Ludoviciana

Day 271: Flighty Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) isn't the easiest bird to photograph. One occasionally comes to my yard, but invariably hides in the tangled leaves of the contorted filbert. However, when Team Biota spotted one in Longmire, we went into full "Big Year" mode and pulled as far off the road as the narrow approach to the bridge would allow, and all four of us jumped out with cameras at the ready. While none of these is an ideal field-guide shot, they are still the best Tanager photos I've achieved, definitely sufficient for a positive ID. A female was more elusive, flitting from tree to tree but always landing in the protective cover of foliage. Formerly placed with other Tanagers, Western Tanager has been reclassified into the family of Cardinals. Western Tanager's diet consists primarily of insects, although they also consume various fruits. Locally, their diet includes elderberries, serviceberry and cherries (wild or cultivated). They are also an important control for tussock moth here in the Pacific Northwest.