Like Tom Love, I have a few questions and thoughts:
1) Didn't Jeff Gilligan just report a Western Tanager from Depoe Bay? Was
that unequivocally a different bird? Now that I think of it, he reported
red in the plumage if memory serves...
How is Summer Tanager ruled out. If indeed the wing linings were seen well
to be white and not yellow that would do it, but both descriptions (Hinkle
and Herlyn) leave room to interpret that the wing linings may not have been
seen well enough to remove all doubt. Also, the flight feathers look pretty
greenish and not overly blackish/grayish. Perhaps I am forgetting something
about Summer Tanager identification, but I think the bird may be that
species. Summer is the more expected of the two vagrant tanagers of course
and I know the observers know that too.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this Obolonians.
David
David C. Bailey
Seaside, Oregon
*Subject: Depoe Bay tanager*
Date: Tue Nov 1 2016 12:37 pm
From: tlove AT linfield.edu
I am surprised to see so little discussion of the reported possible SCARLET
TANAGER in Depoe Bay. This is certainly an intriguing bird. I have little
experience with female Scarlet Tanagers, but based on that and on perusing
several guides I find myself wondering about the dreaded “H” word (hybrid).
Having to work off Adrian’s three photos on ebird only, the lack of wing bars
on relatively darker wings is of course compelling, but the presence of a
saddle effect on the mantle and, even more troubling, a relatively large,
orangish bill, make me wonder about Scarlet. Perhaps others with more
experience can weight in?
Tom
