Photo by Chris Bosak
A Scarlet Tanager sings in a tree in Danbury, Conn., July 2016.
Well, I didn’t expect this guy to show up in the yard in mid-July. Typically I see the spectacular Scarlet Tanager in mid to late May and not again until the fall migration, if I’m lucky, or even next spring. Perhaps this means that it nested nearby. I sure hope so. Or, it could be an early southward migrant, but not likely. At any rate, I was happy to entertain it over the last few days. Hopefully it sticks around.
This is the male Scarlet Tanager. Females are dull yellow. During the fall migration, the males will lose this spectacular plumage and look somewhat similar to females. This guy is just starting to turn … note the yellow spot on its head.
More photos to come …
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Scarlet Tanager perches in a tree in Danbury, Conn., July 2016.
Photo by Chris Bosak
A Scarlet Tanager sings in a tree in Danbury, Conn., July 2016.
Birds of New England.com 
Hi Chris — What a wonderful red. But did you mean to say they lose their bright color in spring migration? From the point of breeding, it seems to me it would make more sense for them to lose color in fall. Susan
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Hi Susan. Just seeing who is paying attention. Just kidding. You are right, it should be fall migration and I made the change. Thanks for finding that and letting me know.
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