I had the good fortune to handle a Western Tanager (young male) a couple of weeks ago (in California). I really isn't that different in size when compared to a Scarlet. Cheers, Kathy Klimkiewicz Laurel MD ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: more on Western Tanager Author: mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway Date: 10/9/98 5:32 PM David Abbott asked me to post this to MDOsprey. I didn't have a chance today to compare Kurt Gaskill's notes against either the Howell and Webb Mexican field guide or Pyle's Identification Guide to North American birds. However, I did notice that Howell and Webb list the lengths of Scarlet Tanager as 6.5-7 inches, Western Tanager as 6.5-7.2 inches, and Summer Tanager as 6.5-8 inches. While Pyle says Western is smaller than other North American tanagers he gives these lengths for wings and tail: Western Tanager wing chord (from the "wrist" to the wing tip) 85-97 millimeters, tail 64-73 mm; Scarlet wing chord 86-101 mm, tail 62-72 mm; Summer Tanager wing chord 86-107 mm, tail 63-88 mm. I don't know what to make of the differences between the two references as regards length of Scarlet and Western Tanager. I strongly urge anybody who sees this bird to write a description of what you see and send it to the Virginia Avian Records Committee. Best, Rob Hilton robert@csa.com Bethesda by day >Hi, > >I don't subscribe to MD OSPREY. Would you please pass this on? Thanks. >David > >From the notes I've seen on the putative Western Tanager at Riverbend, I >will just say this. I see nothing to indicate the bird was even a tanager, >much less eliminating warbler, oriole, etc. Not to say that it wasn't a >tanager but this type of obvious (to the observer) notation helps the rest >of us handicapped by not being present. Further, I suspect the "lime >green" mantle and scapulars do more to eliminate Western than help the >cause. Westerns typically have a olive-gray saddle that encompasses the >wings and sets off the pale yellow rump and nape. Wingbars are usually two >distinct colors: upper yellow, lower paler and whiter. I often use the >green back and yellow rump contrast to identify Scarlets in the fall. The >pure white underparts are difficult to incorporate into a Western claim as >well. Western is small. Although I find the Baltimore Oriole difficult to >confuse because it is long with long tail, I have in the past checked >reports of Western Tanagers in northern VA only to have them be Baltimores. > >Having said that, if you believe the report accurate and the documentation >complete I would encourage it submitted to VARCOM.... > >Best birding! > >David Abbott >Ashburn VA >dfabbott@compuserve.com Rob (Robert) Hilton--robert@csa.com--Bethesda, Maryland, USA Lal Waterson 1943-1998 "and you wonder why when your heart has died that your feet go stumbling on"