Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Tanagers

Tangara

Thraupidae & Cardinalidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities

The tanagers are found throughout North America from the far northern coniferous forests to the grasslands and savannah of the south. In Canada, the Scarlet Tanager is seen in the east and the Western Tanager in the west. The Summer Tanager covers about half the United States. tanagers The Hepatic Tanager is found along the American border into Mexico and the Flame-colored Tanager is found mostly in Mexico but also shows up sometimes in the southern states. Lastly, even more southern is the Blue-gray Tanager, which can be found from southern Mexico, Central America into South America.

The male tanagers are some of the most colourful and beautiful birds in North America and can be seen in their bright red, yellow and orange plumage. Similar to other bird species, the females are very different and their plumage colours are dull greens and yellows.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of Tanagers

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB