Western Spindalis

Spindalis zenaOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Stripe-headed Tanager Breeding Male Portrait

General

Western Spindalis: Small tanager with black-gray back and dark rufous nape and rump. Throat patch is yellow, bib is red-black, breast and collar are yellow-orange, and belly is white. Head is black-and-white striped. Bill is dark gray, short and conical. Wings are dark with white patches. Tail is black with white edges. Female and juvenile are gray overall with pale yellow belly and undertail.

Range and Habitat

Western Spindalis: Native of West Indies, occasionally wandering into southeastern Florida and Florida Keys during summer. Preferred habitats include open forests, forest edges, and shrub areas.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"zee-tit-zee", "tittit-zee", "seeip", "tsee"

Interesting Facts

The Western Spindalis is also known as the Stripe-headed Tanager.

It is our smallest tanager and was first described by Linnaeus in 1766.

A group of tanagers are collectively known as a "season" of tanagers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Western Spindalis

Western Spindalis: Small tanager, black-gray back, dark rufous nape, rump. Throat patch is yellow, bib is red-black, breast and collar are yellow-orange, belly is white. Head is black-and-white striped. Dark gray bill. Wings are dark with white patches. Tail is black with white edges.

● Song: "zee-tit-zee", "tittit-zee", "seeip", "tsee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Western Spindalis: Eats insects and fruits; forages for food in foliage of trees and shrubs.

● Breeding & nesting: Western Spindalis: Two to three brown-flecked, pale blue eggs are laid in a cup nest made of twigs and plants, lined with finer materials, and built on a branch of a tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Western Spindalis: None in range.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

Western Spindalis Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Western Spindalis: Native of West Indies, occasionally wandering into southeastern Florida and Florida Keys during summer. Preferred habitats include open forests, forest edges, and shrub areas.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationRare

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight0.7 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America