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Project Noah Nature School
Piranga rubra
It specializes in eating bees and wasps, both in the summer and on its wintering grounds in Central and South America.
They inhabit open wooded areas, especially oaks.
This red bird was in my balcony trying to get one of my wasps out its nest. Couldn't get a photo of the scene because if I move the bird would see me and fly away, and I only had my camera with my telephoto lens. But it was really cool to see that! Hope to get a wide photo next time.
I'm gonna leave the spotting as Summer tanager, I think it fits, I have my doubts because the beak, but you cleared them up, thank you! :)
I'm leaning toward summer based on your description of the wasp eating. Also, the beak appears to be lighter grey/yellow than the hepatic tanager. Note how dark grey the beak is on the latter. I've seen the summer before in California and the beak isn't necessarily as bright as in the photo on the Cornell site. I also think the summer has brighter body color. Might be something to check though
from the site above:
The only entirely red bird in North America, the Summer Tanager is a bird of southern forests. It specializes in eating bees and wasps, both in the summer and on its wintering grounds in Central and South America.
Spotted on Nov 16, 2011
Submitted on Nov 27, 2011
