Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra

ORDER: Passeriformes

FAMILY: Cardinalidae

Description

The only entirely red bird in North America - the male a uniform rosy-red without the cardinal's crest or black face. It summers in open Texas woodlands, where it is a specialist at catching bees and wasps, beating them against a branch before eating.

Location

Mills Pond, Travis County, Texas

Habitat

open woods, especially with oaks

Season

spring and summer breeder

Size

~7 in / 18 cm

Diet

insects (bees and wasps a specialty), fruit

Conservation Status

Least Concern