Aberrant Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Pinal County

This Western Tanager was found by Nathan Williams and photographed by David Burba on 19 September 2015

Although perhaps impossible to say for sure, this appears to be a Western Tanager exhibiting carotenism; an overabundance of red pigment in the plumage. Although similar to a Flame-colored Tanager, this bird does not show characteristics typically shown by hybrid Western x Flame-colored Tanagers such as different face and wing pattern, tail spots, or dark bill. Hybrid Western x Summer Tanagers appear orange overall, but previously documented individuals show variable orange in the outer vanes of the wing and tail, a very different appearance from the strongly contrasting black wings and tail of this bird.

19 September 2015, photo by David Burba

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