Unusual coloration of a Summer Tanager

[Janeal Thompson]

Norma Verhoeff and I found and photographed this Summer Tanager (SUTA) on our birding trip to Higbee Valley Road, La Junta (Otero Co) CO on 05Jul2024.  The bird was striking with this unusual coloration of an all-yellow tail and rump in contrast to the bright red body.  Is this typical of a molting SUTA or some anomaly? This bird was foraging near a small ditch. 

[Charles Hundertmark]

Perhaps a second=year male that hasn’t completed it’s molt.

Chuck Hundertmark

On Jul 7, 2024, at 3:48 PM, Janeal Thompson <prairies...@gmail.com> wrote:

Norma Verhoeff and I found and photographed this Summer Tanager (SUTA) on our birding trip to Higbee Valley Road, La Junta (Otero Co) CO on 05Jul2024.  The bird was striking with this unusual coloration of an all-yellow tail and rump in contrast to the bright red body.  Is this typical of a molting SUTA or some anomaly? This bird was foraging near a small ditch.  <Summer Tanager  2024Jul5 Higbee Valley Road LaJunta (Otero Co) CO by Janeal Thompson-2.jpg><Summer Tanager  2024Jul5 Higbee Valley Road LaJunta (Otero Co) CO by Janeal Thompson.jpg>

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<Summer Tanager  2024Jul5 Higbee Valley Road LaJunta (Otero Co) CO by Janeal Thompson-2.jpg><Summer Tanager  2024Jul5 Higbee Valley Road LaJunta (Otero Co) CO by Janeal Thompson.jpg>

[Janeal Thompson]

Thank you for your input, Chuck.

Janeal Thompson

Lamar, CO