Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is in the Cardinals and Allies family (Cardinalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 25,235 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Western Tanager: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Tanager
The western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Tanager by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 9,920 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 2,371 | May | May–Jul |
| Arizona | 2,315 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 1,874 | May | May–Aug |
| Washington | 1,564 | May | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 1,537 | May | May–May |
| Utah | 1,166 | May | May–Jul |
| Texas | 884 | May | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 748 | June | May–Aug |
| Idaho | 736 | June | May–Aug |
| Montana | 675 | June | May–Aug |
| Nevada | 586 | May | May–Sep |
| Florida | 146 | January | Dec–Mar |
| South Dakota | 107 | June | May–Jul |
| New York | 97 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 64 | January | Nov–Jan |
| Nebraska | 32 | May | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 31 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Minnesota | 30 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 30 | January | Nov–Jan |
| Virginia | 28 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Louisiana | 26 | January | Jan–Feb |
| North Carolina | 26 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Maryland | 24 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Michigan | 21 | May | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 20 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Georgia | 18 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Illinois | 18 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 18 | December | Dec–Feb |
| Alaska | 17 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 16 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Delaware | 14 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | March | Feb–May |
| New Hampshire | 8 | December | Dec–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 7 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 6 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 6 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Wisconsin | 6 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 5 | January | Dec–Jan |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Cardinals and Allies)
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Summer Tanager
Painted Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Scarlet Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Western Tanager?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to September.
Where is Western Tanager most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Arizona.