English and Scientific names:

Western Tanager, piranga ludoviciana

Number of individuals: 

1, adult male in winter plumage

Locality: LOUISIANA: 

Orleans Parish

Specific Locality:

5530 Tullis Drive

New Orleans, LA

Date(s) when observed:

25 Feb 2007.  Note that it has been there for at least 3 weeks according to the woman who lives there.  The bird was also seen by Nancy Newfield the previous week

Time(s) of day when observed:  

0915 for about 5 minutes

Reporting observer and address:

Ed Wallace

New Orleans LA

Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

Nancy Dickson

Other observers who independently identified the bird(s)

Nancy Dickson

Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Good.  Partly cloudy.  Sun was behind us.

Optical equipment: 

Brunton 8.4.  Good condition

Distance to bird(s): 

25 yards

Duration of observation:

5 minutes

Habitat: 

Suburban.  Backyard was outfitted for attacting hummingbirds.

Behavior of bird: 

Bird first flew into top of tree.  It then slowly approached us until it was in tree 25 yards away.  I lost it when I got distracted by a buff-bellied hummingbird.  It primarily was making its way to a number of feeding stations. 

Description:

Bird was bright yellow, with black wings, black back and a black tail.  The wings had yellow wingbars.  It had a splotchy reddish forhead.  Red extended to chin.  It was about 7" long, about the size of a robin.  Dark eye.  Yellow-bill shaped like most other piranga tanagers. 

Voice:

Did not call.

Similar species:

Female Summer tanager.  Summer tanager does not have black wings or back.  It also does not have wingbars. 

Female Scarlet tanager.  Scarlet tanager has black wings but no wingbars.  Scarlet tanager lacks black back. 
Baltimore Oriole.  Beak is straight on tanager while longer and more pointed on Orioles.  Baltimore Oriole adult males are orange not yellow.  Winter orioles are more orange than the tanager I saw, and do not have black backs. 

Photographs or tape recordings obtained?

Yes, by me.

Previous experience with this species: 

I have seen Western Tanagers multiple times in CA and in Colorado. 

Identification aids:

at time of observation:
None
after observation: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America 5th Edition.

This description is written from: 

mental notes and a glance at picture attached.

Are you positive of your identification? If not, explain: 

 

Absolutely. 

Reporter: 

Ed Wallace

Date and time: 

2-15-2007, 2147