Above, the only all-red bird in the United States, the summer tanager. In a quarter century and more of walking around the South Valley, I’ve seen this bird…twice. But what a treat it is to see one! Contrast that with the red-winged blackbird, also beautiful but one of the most common birds in the U.S. Debates rage about whether or not there are more redwings than Canada geese.
Redwing Blackbird
Below is my favorite warbler, fairly common during the summer.
Townsend’s Warbler
Finally, for today, the rather spectacular mountain bluebird. I saw a flock of about twenty of these in mid-spring of this year in the bosque adjoining the Rio Grande.
Mountain Bluebird
