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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Western tanager lights up a gloomy day

Western tanager male in June. (Jaimie Johnson)
Western tanager male in June. (Jaimie Johnson)

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- "It was 37 degrees and raining at our home this morning," reports Western Montana outdoor photographer Jaime Johnson, without a hint of complaint. " The best part of rainy June days is that the Western tanagers show up in force! I lost count at 30+ tanagers on our feeders this morning!"

Western tanager plumage resembles the colors of a flame. The species certainly stokes my enthusiasm to head out with a spotting scope.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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