Monday, November 3, 2008

My Favorite Tanager

Monday, November 3, 2008
9 comments
I've seen a lot of tanager species in my years of bird watching. Both summer and scarlet tanagers nest on our 80-acre farm in southeast Ohio every summer—more scarlets by far. Tanagers come in a wide variety of color schemes, often involving bright red, yellow, or orange. Yet my favorite tanager is one that comes in subtle hues: the blue-gray tanager.

Blue-gray tanager in Cerro Azul, Panama.

I can't tell you why I like the blue-gray tanager best of all. Maybe it's because, like mountain bluebirds, they make the most of a rather plain uniform. Or perhaps it's because they are common and easy to see throughout much of the New World tropics—from central Mexico to the northern half of South America. I've enjoyed them in Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Peru.

Bay-headed tanagers are fabulously beautiful. I got to see them in Panama a few weeks ago, along with crimson-backed, silver-throated, and golden-hooded tanagers—all stunning birds.

I don't know. There's just something about a blue-gray tanager.

There's not much left on this piece of fruit.


During my recent trip to Panama, while staying at a nice hotel in Cerro Azul called Hostal Casa de Campo, there were blue-gray tanagers visiting the fruit feeder just outside the dining room. Due to our schedule and the weather we only had about 15 minutes with the birds, but I managed to capture a few worthwhile images in between bites of lunch.

Blue-gray tanager in Cerro Azul, Panama.

9 comments:

On November 3, 2008 at 5:09 PM Vickie said...

Lovely, lovely hues of blue and gray. I can see why its your favorite!

On November 3, 2008 at 7:40 PM Anonymous said...

Great bird, BOTB!
Hope I can see one for myself some day. Your lovely images will have to do for now.

--Lydia T

On November 3, 2008 at 7:53 PM NCmountainwoman said...

Oh, I agree. It is a lovely bird.

On November 3, 2008 at 8:24 PM Anne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
On November 3, 2008 at 9:01 PM Anonymous said...

Awesome photos - I especially like the one with the tanager cocking its head sideways looking at the fruit peel - great "personality" shot!

I have never seen a Blue-Grey Tanager - gorgeous!

On November 4, 2008 at 10:15 AM Rondeau Ric said...

It's sort of formal looking, classy.

On November 4, 2008 at 3:25 PM Chris said...

Hi...
Congrats, these pictures are awesome... And the text accompanying is wonderful... Thanks for sharing your experience with us

On November 4, 2008 at 3:31 PM Mary said...

The shades of blue and grey are so nice... Very pretty bird!

I like the shot of its expression while examining the dried up fruit.

On November 10, 2008 at 12:03 PM Anonymous said...

What a coincidence, Bill. Blue-gray is my favorite tanager too. I think it's because these guys are cool where the others are hot. Their commonness doesn't hurt either!


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