I was rewarded on my walk into the canyon late this afternoon with a great view of a male western tanager in breeding plumage. I was in the wash next to the road in Live Oak Canyon and the bird was standing on a branch in a dead tree quite near me.
I've only seen them a few times in my life and never this close.
The male has a red face, yellow nape, shoulder and rump and black upper back, wings and tail. In non-breeding plumage the male has a slightly red head and the body an olive shade.
Wow, this is a stunning bird. It's the California reply to Africa's lilac-breasted roller.
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