Page:Bird-lore Vol 04.djvu/109

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How to Name the Birds

STUDIES OF THE FAMILIES OF PASSERES BY FRANK M. CHAPMAN

FOURTH PAPER I-‘Amu' 7, Tanners Tmmgridw.

Range.—Tanagers are characteristic birds of the American tropics. Only four of the some 350 known species regularly reach the United States, and but two of these are found east of the lVIississippi,

Sm:an.—Like most of our representatives of tropical families Tanagers are highly migratory; all our species winter south of the United States. The Scarlet Tanager, the only species found regularly north of Maryland, reaches the latitude of New York City about l\/Iay 5 and remains until October I.

Calmz—Tanagers are remarkable for the brilliancy of their colors. to which, in connection with their abundance, is largely due the popular but


SCARLET TAxAGEa, Family anmgndll Ont-Alhin "alural sim

erroneous idea that the majority of tropical birds are brightly colored. As a rule the male is much more conspicuously colored than the female. On ac- quiring his full plumage—usually in his first spring—his color may not again vary appreciably, as with our Summer Tanager. or it may be changed after

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