White wingbars on scarlet tanager? (1 Viewer)

[mlints]

Yesterday my wife and I spotted what looked very much like an adult male scarlet tanager in our Vermont backyard - bright red body, dark wings - but it also had white bars on the wings similar to the western tanager.

It perched briefly on a fern near the ground, then again near the top of a nearby apple tree. I'm sorry to say it didn't stay long enough to get a picture.

Do scarlet tanagers sometimes have wingbars, or is there something else it might have been?

 

[Peter C.]

Hi mlints:

Welcome to BF!

I've never come across a Scarlet (adult) with anything like wingbars, white or otherwise. But, I can't think of any other bird (in North America) that combines the red body and dark wings, so can`t think of an alternative.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Maybe, do you have it there?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-barred_crossbill


Andy

 

[Nutcracker]

Maybe, do you have it there?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-barred_crossbill


Andy

Yep, they do occur in VT, so a real possibility :t:

 

[RJP]

Yep, they do occur in VT, so a real possibility :t:

But a real long shot in the summer - e-bird records only a handful of sightings in July-August in Vermont over the last 10 years, although some of them were flocks.

 

[Tiraya]

Male scarlet tanagers sometimes show part of a red wing bar, but I have not heard of two white bars.

 

[nartreb]

I don't how well you could see the bird or how much experience you have in identifying birds, so please don't take this as condescending, but I think we should start with the basics.

When IDing a tanager, it's a good idea to rule out orioles. One of the easier ways is that orioles have wing bars and tanagers don't. A Baltimore oriole can be a bright enough red that a quick sighting could be confusing (their color is quite variable). The easiest difference to spot would be the color of the head.

The white-winged crossbill is an intriguing possibility, but... as already pointed out, that would be a noteworthy sighting in summer. Furthermore, neither an apple tree nor a fern is a typical perch for a crossbill. (On the other hand, it didn't stick around, so maybe it didn't like those perches. Were those the only perches available in your yard, or was there something better available nearby? Better for a crossbill being an evergreen, especially spruce or hemlock, with mature cones.)

 

[KC Foggin]

I also have never seen any white wing bars on the Scarlet Tanagers that I come across. I'm with Andy as far as it possibly being the Crossbill.

 

[mlints]

Thanks for all the replies. The head was bright red, so I don't think it was an oriole. In spite of their scarcity here, the crossbill seems most likely. It was a brighter red than any images I've seen of crossbills, but perhaps within the normal range of variation in color and lighting.

I hope it shows up again so I can get a better look at it.

 

[WestWings]

June 2024. Newberry Florida. I have seen a red summer male Tanager along w one faded yellow female Tanager for many years. I have about 8 feeding stations(open tray), and 4-7 birdbaths. I recently saw a red one w a noticeable 1 inch white spot. Thought, maybe bird pooh, or road dust(very dry presently). The white length did not dissappear after its bath. It appeared again today with the white spot and a smaller white spot on the other side. It appears there is a bit more faded white/grey dispersed closer to body. Maybe it's aging?

 

[Butty]

I have seen a red summer male Tanager along w one faded yellow female Tanager for many years.

These are likely to have been a succession of different individuals over the years. Small birds don't live long.

white spot and a smaller white spot on the other side. It appears there is a bit more faded white/grey dispersed closer to body. Maybe it's aging?

Presumably either muck or aberrant feathering - not age. In my opinion.
Welcome to BF 👍🏼 (Note that it's normally best to start a new topic for a different subject.)

 

[Thijsdekruif]

Maybe a Common Crossbill? They can also show wingbars. Usually less marked, though.

 

[WestWings]

These are likely to have been a succession of different individuals over the years. Small birds don't live long.

Presumably either muck or aberrant feathering - not age. In my opinion.
Welcome to BF 👍🏼 (Note that it's normally best to start a new topic for a different subject.)

Having kept fresh water in bird baths consistently for 15 yrs, yes, a continuing succession of migratory birds frequent the area. Success!. I would agree the faded white coloring probably is aberrant feathering. There is a noticeable white coloring though. I started with the question/observation that had inspired me to investigate. Thank you for responding. Being a novice and extremely passionate bird lover, w some questions, insightful responses are welcome.