44 birdsandblooms.com SEPTEMBER EXTRA 2020
Scarlet Tanager
Simply stunning, tanagers are usually spotted
in the forest canopies in the eastern United
States. They can occasionally be coaxed into
backyards with nectar, suet, mealworm or jelly
feeders. Their fairly thick bills are used for
eating insects and fruits. Male scarlet tanagers
have dark wings and tails with bright red
bodies, while females and immature birds are
a greenish tone. The scarlet tanager’s song
is sometimes described as sounding like a
sore-throated robin.Elegant Trogon
Although trogons are a family of tropical birds
found mostly south of the U.S. border, elegant
trogons have a very limited range in the United
States. They are worth seeking out in the
wooded canyons of southern Arizona. Their
distinct white chest bands offset their brilliant
pink bellies and festive green heads. Long tails
and portly bodies also help them stand out.
Elegant trogons are secondary cavity nesters,
meaning they take over and create homes in
holes excavated by woodpeckers. •