Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata), Madera Kubo, Santa Cruz County

This Flame-colored Tanager was first seen this year by Tom Thompson and reported by Melody Kehl on 27 March 2010.  It was photographed by Laurens Halsey on 28 March 2010.  This is presumably the same male returning to this location for the eighth year. 

Flame-colored Tanager is very rare in the Sky Islands but has been recorded in the Chiricahuas, Huachucas and Santa Ritas. It has bred several times and been observed to hybridize with Western Tanagers.

Elimination of a hybrid Flame-colored X Western Tanager by relatively pale (when compared to rest of bird) orange rump, the pale orange back with dark streaking (albeit lightly towards the lower back and rump), and incredibly bright orange head and body plumage (not yellowish or reddish) .

28 March 2010, photo by Laurens Halsey