hybrid Flame-colored X Western Tanager (Piranga bidentata X P. ludoviciana), Upper Miller Canyon, Cochise County

This apparent hybrid Flame-colored X Western Tanager was first reported by a guest at Beatty's on 17 April 2013.  It was photographed by Laurence Butler on 27 April 2013.

Flame-colored Tanager is notorious for hybridizing with Western Tanager and such hybrids have been regularly found in the Huachucas for many years. 

Features that argue against this bird being a pure Flame-colored Tanager: lack of streaking on the back, yellow upper wing bar, weak auricular markings, weak orange color on head and breast. 

27 April 2013, photo by Laurence Butler

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