Western Tanager
Western TanagerWestern TanagerWestern TanagerWestern Tanager

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Elk Island National Park
34 Verified sightings at Elk Island National Park From 2019 to 2026
6,743 Verified sightings across all 37 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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 classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.

The western tanager was illustrated and formally described by American ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1811 under the binomial name Tanagra ludoviciana from a specimen collected on the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). The type locality is Kamiah, Idaho. The specific epithet is from the Late Latin ludovicianus for "Louis". The name is from Louisiana, the 18th-century French administrative district of New France, rather than the modern state. The western tanager is now placed in the genus Piranga that was introduced by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1808. The species is monotypic; no subspecies are recognized.

Measurements: Length: 6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm) Weight: 0.8–1.3 oz (24–36 g) Wingspan: 11.5 in (29 cm) Adults have pale, stout pointed bills, yellow underparts, and light wing bars. Adult males have a bright red face and... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Elk Island National Park

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
LC

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
American Robin
LC

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Song Sparrow
LC

Song Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melospiza melodia

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Black-capped Chickadee
LC

Black-capped Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile atricapillus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
White-throated Sparrow
LC

White-throated Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia albicollis

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Yellow Warbler
LC

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Red-eyed Vireo
LC

Red-eyed Vireo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vireo olivaceus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Least Flycatcher
LC

Least Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Empidonax minimus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Cedar Waxwing
LC

Cedar Waxwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bombycilla cedrorum

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
2 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
3 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
4 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
5 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
6 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
7 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
8 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
9 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
10 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
12 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
14 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
15 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
16 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
17 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
18 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
19 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
20 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
22 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
23 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
27 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
28 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
32 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
33 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
34 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
35 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
36 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Western Tanager in Elk Island National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Western Tanager sighting in Elk Island National Park, based on 34 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Western Tanager in Elk Island National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Western Tanager in Elk Island National Park in our monthly data.

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