Cathi Pelletier wrote:

"What a treat to see this bright little Western visitor among the
black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos and tufted titmice in an
ice-encrusted northern Connecticut back yard!

"This is the first documented record of a western tanager in =
Connecticut.
Although one was apparently seen approximately 20 years ago, it was
never properly documented."

Cathi,

Western Tanagers are beautiful to see anywhere at any time of the year. =
However, this is neither the first or the first documented WETA in the =
fair state of Connecticut....

"The Birds of Connecticut" (State Geological and Natural History Survey =
Bulletin No. 20) written by John Hall Sage, M.S. and Louis Bennett =
Bishop, M.D. assisted by Walter Parks Bliss M.A. in 1913 states on page =
137:

Piranga ludoviciana (Wilson). Western Tanager.
A young male of this species was collected by H.W. Flint on Fair Haven =
Heights, in New Haven, Dec. 15, 1892. "It is not an escaped bird, as =
the feet and plumage clearly indicate." (Mr Flint's report was from the =
1893 Auk, Vol X No 1, pg 86 and the 1892 Ornithologist and Oologist Vol =
XVII, 12, pg 187).

Now, if you'd just send a Scarlet Tanager OUR way..... :-)

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net