Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata), Upper Ramsey Canyon, Cochise County

This Flame-colored Tanager was found by Theresa Lawson on 06 April 2018 and photographed by Jesse Amesbury on 09 April 2018

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 not seen).

09 April 2018, photo by Jesse Amesbury

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