Western Tanager males are bright yellow and black, with orange-red heads. The majority of the plumage is yellow, with dark tails and two wing-bars on each wing. The dark markings on mature males are solid black, while females and juveniles have gray to brown markings. Each wing of a male has one white and one yellow wing-bar. On females, which are duller yellow than males, both wing-bars may be white, or one may be pale yellow. Males in their first year have little to no red on their heads. Western Tanager bills are medium in thickness, thinner than seed-eaters but thicker than insectivores.

photo credit: Lenny Frieling

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