The Status and Occurrence of Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) in British Columbia. By Rick Toochin and Don Cecile. Revised: January 28, 2025.

The Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) is beautiful passerine found throughout the southern United States (Dunn and Alderfer 2011). This species breeds from southeastern California, southern Nevada, very rarely in Idaho, southwest Utah, central Arizona, central New Mexico, into southern Texas along the Gulf Coast, and southern Florida: also in central Texas, west-central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, very rarely in South Dakota, southern Iowa, central Illinois (very rare in northern Illinois), southern Wisconsin, central Indiana, Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, eastern Maryland, and New Jersey. In Mexico it is found breeding in northeastern Baja California, northern Sinaloa, northern Durango, southeastern Coahuila, and central Nuevo Leon (Beadle and Rising 2006). The Summer Tanager winters from southern Baja California, southern Sinaloa, and southern Tamaulipas south through Central America and South America (including Trinidad) to west of the Andes to southern Ecuador, and east of the Andes to northern Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil (Beadle and Rising 2006). This species is rare, but regular in southern California in the fall and winter, southern Arizona, Louisiana, southern Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba (Beadle and Rising 2006). The Summer Tanager is a vagrant to Hispaniola and the Lesser Antilles (Beadle and Rising 2006). This species is rare in the fall and a very rare spring vagrant in southern Quebec and Atlantic Canada (Beadle and Rising 2006). The Summer Tanager is casual in winter north to Michigan, southern Canada and Newfoundland, and North Dakota (Beadle and Rising 2006). This species is accidental in Britain with a record of a first-winter male that was present on Bardsey Island, Wales, from September 11–25, 1957 (Lewington et al. 1992). 

 

Along the west coast, the Summer Tanager is a casual to rare species in Oregon with over eighteen state records accepted by the Oregon Bird Records Committee (OFO 2012). This species is accidental in Washington State with seven accepted records by the Washington Bird Records Committee (Wahl et al. 2005, WBRC 2014). In British Columbia, the Summer Tanager is an accidental species with only a few provincial records (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1).

 

There are 2 distinct subspecies of Summer Tanager found throughout their breeding range in North America (Dunn and Alderfer 2011, Robinson 2012). The western subspecies of Summer Tanager is (P. r. cooperi) which is found in riparian woodlands, especially those dominated by cottonwoods and willows from west Texas and the rest of Western North America (Dunn and Alderfer 2011, Robinson 2012). The eastern subspecies of Summer Tanager is also the nominate subspecies (P. r. rubra) which is found in deciduous or pine-oak woodlands, especially woodlands with sparse understory from eastern Texas and the rest of Eastern North America (Dunn and Alderfer 2011, Robinson 2012). 

 

The identification of the Summer Tanager is covered in all standard North American field guides. The Summer Tanager is a larger species measuring 20 cm in length with a wingspan of 30 cm, and weighs 29 grams (Sibley 2000). In comparison, the Western Tanager is slightly smaller and measures 18 cm with a wingspan of 29 cm, and weighs 28 grams (Sibley 2000). The Summer Tanager is a very obvious species in any plumage and should not be difficult to identify if observed well.

 

Adult males are entirely bright rosy-red (with western birds looking slightly duller) that is held year-round (Beadle and Rising 2006). There is a slight crest on the crown (Sibley 2000). The eyes are black and the bill is large and pale yellow (Sibley 2000). The legs are pale gray (Dunn and Alderfer 2011). 

 

Adult females have a light pale bill, dark eyes with a mustard yellow face, throat, and breast to the undertail coverts (Lewington et al. 1992, Beadle and Rising 2006). The crown, neck, back, wings and tail are brownish-yellow-olive and unmarked. The rectrices and remiges, especially the outer primaries, often show brownish-red edges (Lewington et al. 1992). Some females, especially of the eastern race (P. r. rubra) show an overall reddish wash on the breast, belly, wings and tail. Western (P. r. cooperi) is larger overall, with larger bills and is paler and has a grayer tone (Beadle and Rising 2006).

 

Juvenile birds show more brownish general colouration than adult female and are rather heavily streaked above and below with distinct pale double wing-bars (Lewington et al. 1992).

 

First winter males resemble the adult female, but the tertials are usually retained juvenile with rather distinct paler tips to the outer webs that are lacking in the adult. The tail feathers are obviously more pointed than the adults (Lewington et al. 1992).

 

First spring males hold this plumage from March to July (Sibley 2000). These birds are highly variable, but usually have red on the head and a varying amount of red on the wings and body (Sibley 2000, Dunn and Alderfer 2011).

 

The song of the Summer Tanager is robin-like with a staccato call “ki-ti-tuck” (Dunn and Alderfer 2011). The flight call is a soft, wheezy “veedrr” or verree” (Sibley 2000).

 

The Summer Tanager is an accidental vagrant to British Columbia with 13 records (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The first record was a first spring male found and photographed coming to the feeders of Mark Wall and Michele Humphrey at Blue River on May 7, 2009 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). Though there are sight records for the province prior to this sighting, this bird was well photographed (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The second record for the province was an adult male singing on territory by Doug Brown along the Bush River Forest Service Road on the way to Kinbasket Lake on June 11, 2009 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The third record for British Columbia was found and photographed by El-Khahlafaw coming to his backyard feeders at 1572 Admiral Tryon Boulevard, Parksville from November 19-28, 2011 and was seen by many lucky observers throughout this period and was refound on January 26, 2012 (Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The fourth record for the province was recently found and photographed by Linda Norman in New Denver from November 8-16, 2015 (L. Norman Pers. Comm.). A photograph can be viewed of this bird at http://bcbirdalert.blogspot.ca/2015/12/nov-8-16-summer-tanager-in-new-denver.html. The fifth record involved an adult male found and photographed by Nick Swan, and many other observers at Okanagan Mt. Park from September 29-October 1, 2016 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.). The sixth record was of an adult male found by Rick Toochin on private property in Matsqui on October 7, 2016 (R. Toochin Pers. Comm). The seventh record was an immature male the was found and photographed by Wendy Kahle, and many other observers along the Arbutus Greenway end of Avery Ave. in Vancouver from December 9, 2017 – April 20, 2018 (W. Kahle Pers. Comm.).  The eighth record was of a male found and photographed by Tom Davies, and many other observers at 2835 Francois Lake Road at Fraser Lake from September 25- October 1, 2019 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.). The ninth record was an adult male found and photographed by Cam Gilles at 717 14th Street in Invermere on May 8, 2020 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.). The tenth record was an adult male found by  Wes Aslin, and many other observers at the end of Page Road along the Mastqui Trail in Matsqui Prairie on May 20, 2020 (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.). The eleventh and most recent record was of a 1st spring male found by Joanne Beaulieu at Pasadena Drive in Kelowna on June 26, 2020 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.). The twelfth record for the province involved an adult male that was found and photographed by Max and Gib Maxwell, and many other observers at 449 Tyron Boulevard in North Saanich from November 11, 2023- April 18, 2024 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.). The most recent record was of a female bird found and photographed by Jon and Ben Lambert and other observers at 4595 54 A Street in Delta on December 15 & 18, 2024 (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.).

Records in British Columbia have not been broken down to subspecies, however, winter records in southern coastal California have been proven through skin specimen evidence to have been the eastern subspecies (P. r. rubra) even though the western subspecies (P. r. cooperi) breeds not far away in the eastern part of the state (Wahl et al. 2005). This shows that a record can’t be assumed to either subspecies without solid evidence. 

 

The spring records of Summer Tanager in British Columbia fall into the category of likely overshoots and the dates fall into the right timing with early May to mid-June as the time period (Roberson 1980). The records in Oregon and Washington State reflect the fall records in British Columbia with the period of October into November appearing to be the best time period (Wahl et al. 2005, OFO 2012, Toochin et al. 2014, see Table 1). The 12 provincial records to date fit the overall west coast vagrancy pattern perfectly. 

 

The Summer Tanager should be watched for by feeder watchers and keen observers alike as it is possible anywhere in British Columbia and is highly likely to occur again in the future.

 

1.(1) 1st spring male May 7, 2009: Mark Wall and Michele Humphrey, mobs (photo) Blue River (Toochin et al. 2014)

2.(1) adult male June 11, 2009: Doug Brown: the Bush River FSR on the way to Kinbasket Lake (Toochin et al. 2014)

3.(1) immature/ female November 19-28, 2011: El-Khahlafaw, mobs (photo) 1572 Admiral Tryon Boulevard, Parksville (Toochin et al. 2014) 

   (1) immature/ female January 26, 2012: fide Neil Robins (photo) Parksville (Toochin et al. 2014)

4.(1) immature/ female November 8-16, 2015: Linda Norman (photo) New Denver (L. Norman Pers. Comm.)

5.(1) adult male September 29-October 1, 2016: Nick Swan, mobs (photo) Okanagan Mt. Park (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)

6.(1) adult male October 7, 2016: Rick Toochin: private property in Matsqui (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.)

7.(1) immature male December 9, 2017 – April 20, 2018: Wendy Kahle, mobs (photo) Arbutus Greenway end of Avery Ave., Vancouver (W. Kahle Pers. Comm.)

8.(1) male September 25- October 1, 2019: Tom Davies, mobs (photo) 2835 Francois Lake Rd, Fraser Lake (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)

9.(1) adult male May 8, 2020: Cam Gilles (photo) 717 14th Street, Invermere (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)

10.(1) adult male May 20, 2020: Wes Aslin, mobs: end of Page Road, Mastqui Trail, Matsqui (R. Toochin Pers. Comm.)

11.(1) 1st spring male June 26, 2020: Joanne Beaulieu: Pasadena Dr., Kelowna (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)
12.(1) adult male November 11, 2023-April 18, 2024: Max and Gib Maxwell, mobs (photo) 449 Tyron Boulevard, North Saanich (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)
13.(1) female December 15 & 18, 2024 & January 28, 2025: Jon and Ben Lambert, mobs (photo) 4595 54 A Street, Delta (D. Cecile Pers. Comm.)

 

Hypothetical Records:

1.(1) adult male June 8-11, 2006: Les and Ruby Wade: Jordan River (Toochin et al. 2014)  

2.(1) adult male July 29, 2009: Tina Hansen: Sooke (Toochin et al. 2014)    

3.(1) adult female July 4, 2013: Heather Sapergia, Suzanne Bahr: "Forests for the World" near UNBC, Prince George (Toochin et al. 2014)

4.(1) immature male September 24, 2013: Logan Lalonde: 1791 Spruce Grove Court, Kelowna (Toochin et al. 2014)                                                                                                           

Observation withdrawn by Observer:

1.(1) adult female May 16, 2009: Gordie Gadsden: Island 22, Chilliwack (Toochin et al. 2014)

                        

We wish to thank Mark Wall and Michele Humphrey for allowing us to use their photographs of the Summer Tanager from Blue River. We also wish to thank El-Khahlafaw “Brashir” for allowing us to use his photographs of the Summer Tanager from Parksville.  A special thanks to Andrew Boycott for sharing his photographs of the bird in North Saanich. All photographs are used with the permission of the photographer and are protected by copyright law. Photographs are not to be reproduced, published or retransmitted on any website without the authorization of the photographer.

 

Beadle, D. and J. Rising. 2006. Tanagers, Cardinals, and Finches of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 196pp.

Dunn, J. L. and J. Alderfer. 2011. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington D.C. 574pp.

Lewington, I., P. Alstrom, and P. Colston. 1992. A Field Guide to the Rare Birds of Britain and Europe. Jersey: Domino Books Ltd., Jersey, UK. 448pp.

OFO. 2012. Oregon Field Ornithologists - Records Committee. [Online resource] http://www. oregonbirds.org/index.html. [Accessed: December 14, 2015].

Robinson, W. D. 2012. Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology [Online Resource] Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/248 [Accessed: January 25, 2016].

 

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley field guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 545pp.

 

Toochin, R., J. Fenneman and P. Levesque. 2014. British Columbia Rare Bird List: Casual and Accidental Records: January 1, 2014: 3rd Edition. [Online resource] Retrieved from http://ibis.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/documents/BCRareBirdListVersionXZABC.pdf  [Accessed: December 9, 2015].

 

Wahl, T. R., B. Tweit, and S. Mlodinow. 2005. Birds of Washington: Status and Distribution. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. 436pp.

 

WBRC. 2014. Washington Bird Records Committee – Summary of Decisions. Washington Ornithological Society, Seattle, WA. [Online resource]  http://www.wos.org/wbrcaccepteddec2014.pdf [Accessed: December 16, 2015].