What is "summer tanager"

Summer \Sum"mer\, n. [OE. sumer, somer, AS. sumor, sumer; akin to OFries. sumur, D. zomer, OS. sumar, G. sommer, OHG. & Icel. sumar, Dan. sommer, Sw. sommar, W. haf, Zend hama, Skr. sam[=a] year. [root]292.] The season of the year in which the sun shines most directly upon any region; the warmest period of the year. Note: North of the equator summer is popularly taken to include the months of June, July, and August. Astronomically it may be considered, in the northern hemisphere, to begin with the summer solstice, about June 21st, and to end with the autumnal equinox, about September 22d. Indian summer, in North America, a period of warm weather late in autumn, usually characterized by a clear sky, and by a hazy or smoky appearance of the atmosphere, especially near the horizon. The name is derived probably from the custom of the Indians of using this time in preparation for winter by laying in stores of food. Saint Martin's summer. See under Saint. Summer bird (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck. [Prov. Eng.] Summer colt, the undulating state of the air near the surface of the ground when heated. [Eng.] Summer complaint (Med.), a popular term for any diarrheal disorder occurring in summer, especially when produced by heat and indigestion. Summer coot (Zo["o]l.), the American gallinule. [Local, U.S.] Summer cypress (Bot.), an annual plant ( Kochia Scoparia) of the Goosefoot family. It has narrow, ciliate, crowded leaves, and is sometimes seen in gardens. Summer duck. (Zo["o]l.)

1. The wood duck.

2. The garganey, or summer teal. See Illust. of Wood duck, under Wood. Summer fallow, land uncropped and plowed, etc., during the summer, in order to pulverize the soil and kill the weeds. Summer rash (Med.), prickly heat. See under Prickly. Summer sheldrake (Zo["o]l.), the hooded merganser. [Local, U.S.] Summer snipe. (Zo["o]l.)

   1. The dunlin.

   2. The common European sandpiper.

3. The green sandpiper.

   Summer tanager (Zo["o]l.), a singing bird ( Piranga rubra) native of the Middle and Southern United States. The male is deep red, the female is yellowish olive above and yellow beneath. Called also summer redbird.

   Summer teal (Zo["o]l.), the blue-winged teal. [Local, U.S.]

   Summer wheat, wheat that is sown in the spring, and matures during the summer following. See Spring wheat.

   Summer yellowbird. (Zo["o]l.) See Yellowbird.

n. of middle and southern United States; male is deep rose-red the female mostly yellow [syn: summer redbird, Piranga rubra]

The summer tanager (Piranga rubra), is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family ( Cardinalidae). The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.

Their breeding habitat is open wooded areas, especially with oaks, across the southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa. These birds migrate to Mexico, Central America and northern South America. This tanager is an extremely rare vagrant to western Europe.

Adults have stout pointed bills and measure in length and in weight. Adult males are rose red and similar in appearance to the hepatic tanager, although the latter has a dark bill; females are orangish on the underparts and olive on top, with olive-brown wings and tail. As with all other birds, all red and orange colorations are acquired through their diet.

These birds are often out of sight, foraging high in trees, sometimes flying out to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, especially bees and wasps, and berries. Fruit of Cymbopetalum mayanum ( Annonaceae) are an especially well-liked food in their winter quarters and birds will forage in human-altered habitat. Consequently, these trees can be planted to entice them to residential areas, and they may well be attracted to bird feeders. Summer tanagers build a cup nest on a horizontal tree branch.