Western Tanager
Western TanagerWestern TanagerWestern TanagerWestern Tanager

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Rocky Mountain National Park
1,788 Verified sightings at Rocky Mountain 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 Rocky Mountain National Park

Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-headed Grosbeak
LC

Black-headed Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Yellow Grosbeak
LC

Yellow Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus chrysopeplus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Lazuli Bunting
LC

Lazuli Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina amoena

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
LC

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Blue Grosbeak
LC

Blue Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina caerulea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Indigo Bunting
LC

Indigo Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina cyanea

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Dickcissel
LC

Dickcissel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spiza americana

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Mountain Chickadee
LC

Mountain Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile gambeli

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely
American Robin
LC

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
American Crow
LC

American Crow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~60% · 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 Rocky Mountain National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Western Tanager sighting in Rocky Mountain National Park, based on 1,788 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Western Tanager in Rocky Mountain National Park?

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

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