“Hepatic” is the Greek word for liver, which is a very red organ. Hepatic Tanagers are named for their brilliant red color.
We haven’t had a tanager on this blog for years. And in that case I only got pictures of the female so this is my first post of a bright looking tanager.
We saw the tanager at a feeder provided by the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. I wish the local birds were as excited about my suet feeder as this guy.
photo by Jon
Birds always look better in a natural environment, don’t they? The color in this picture was not enhanced – he’s actually that bright!
Oddly enough, these tanagers are not part of the tanager family. They are members of the cardinal family because of their plumage and vocalizations. I didn’t hear any vocalizations, but the feathers are very similar to cardinals.
I would say that the beak is also similar, but the tanager family has large beaks too.
So, you are down in Madera Canyon, my old stomping grounds! I was just looking at some of my photos from there today. Sure do miss those Acorn woodpeckers and the Townsend’s Warblers! Sounds like you are having fun!
The Acorn Woodpeckers are great – they look like crazy clowns! We stayed in Patagonia, visited Madera Canyon, Miller’s Canyon, Ash Canyon (Mary Jo wasn’t home but we did look at her hummingbirds) and spent half a day at Patagonia Lake. It’s such a beautiful area, I can’t wait to go back. Birding in Utah is a lot more difficult.
Oooh, pretty! Such a sleek little fellow.
I do enjoy the brightly colored birds.