Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata), Garden Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, Cochise County

This Flame-colored Tanager was found by Jennie Macfarland on 06 May 2017 and photographed by Michael Cooper on 07 May 2017

Photos brightened- bird was mostly in poor light.

Very rare summer visitor. Has been documented in the Chiricahuas, Huachucas and Santa Ritas individuals have returned and nesting has occured as well as hybrids with Western Tanager P. ludoviciana.

Note the dark auricular patch, dark bill, and white tail spots which separate this from Western Tanagers. These features as well as the overall bright orange coloration indicate that the male is a pure Flame-colored Tanager rather than a hybrid (back and rump were note seen).

07 May 2017, photo by Michael Cooper

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