What specific combination describes the male Western Tanager's striking fresh spring plumage?
Answer
Brilliant yellow body, fiery red head, and black wings
The male Western Tanager exhibits highly conspicuous breeding plumage, which is a key product of sexual selection pressures. This distinctive appearance features a combination of three primary elements: a brilliant yellow body, a fiery red head, and wings that are predominantly black. In addition to these major color blocks, the plumage is further characterized by the presence of two prominent white wing bars. This vibrant display serves as an important signal of fitness and genetic quality to potential mates, differentiating him significantly from the much drabber female counterpart.
Related Questions
To which family does DNA evidence definitively place the genus Piranga, including the Western Tanager?Which relative species within the Piranga genus is noted for being largely non-migratory, remaining in the southwestern US and Mexico year-round?What specific combination describes the male Western Tanager's striking fresh spring plumage?What geological feature or environmental boundary reinforces the Western Tanager's distinct western lineage, as it is generally absent as a consistent breeder east of this demarcation?After which developmental event does the Western Tanager acquire its distinct, bright adult male plumage?What were the primary morphological and behavioral characteristics used historically to group the Western Tanager with South American true tanagers?How is the female Western Tanager generally described in terms of coloration when contrasted with the male's vibrant display?To which lower-elevation regions does the entire population of Western Tanagers migrate to escape harsh northern winters?What primary evolutionary function is served by the female Western Tanager's less conspicuous, drab camouflage coloration?What specific type of forest habitat, often found at high elevations, does the Western Tanager utilize for breeding across the western mountains?