The Summer tanager (Piranga rubra ) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Serial monogamySerial monogamy is a mating system in which a pair bonds only for one breeding season.
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SolitaryMi
MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withAdult males are rose red and similar in appearance to the Hepatic tanager, although the latter has a dark bill; females are orangish on the underparts and olive on top, with olive-brown wings and tail. As with all other birds, all red and orange colorations are acquired through their diet.
Summer tanagers breed across the southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa, and migrate to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. These birds prefer open wooded areas, especially with oaks, and riparian areas. They also often occur along forest edges, in parks, and in gardens.
Summer tanagers are diurnal birds. When not breeding they usually spend time singly or sometimes join mixed-species flocks of fruit-eating birds. Summer tanagers often stay out of sight, foraging high in trees, and sometimes flying out to catch insects in flight. They have an American robin-like song, similar enough that novices sometimes mistake this bird for that species. The song consists of melodic units, repeated in a constant stream. The birds also have a sharp, agitated-sounded call ‘pi-tuk or pik-i-tuk-i-tuk’.
Summer tanagers are generally carnivores (insectivores) and mainly eat insects, especially bees and wasps, When insects are scares they will feed on fruit and berries.
Summer tanagers are serially monogamous. They form pairs only for one breeding season which occurs between April and August. During this time males are territorial and actively defend their nests and feeding territory. Females build their cup nests on horizontal tree branches and line them with fine grasses. After the nest is complete the female lays 3 to 4 eggs and incubates them for 12-13 days. The chicks hatch helpless with their eyes closed and are fed by both parents. After 8 to 10 days, they leave the nest but remain dependent on their parents for about 2-4 weeks more. Reproductive maturity is reached when young Summer tanagers are 1 year old.
Summer tanagers are not threatened at present but they suffer from habitat destruction and collision with television towers during their nocturnal migrations.
According to All About Birds Resource, the total breeding population size of the Summer tanager is 12 million individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Summer tanagers play a very important role in the ecosystem they live in. Due to their diet habits, these birds control the populations of the insects they eat and they also help spread seeds of the plants they eat.
