Tyler Davis wrote:

" Late last July, I spotted a yellow bird with a red head and black wings.
Western Tanager, right? Well, as it showed in all my books and in
Thayer, the black goes across the back from one wing to another.
The bird I saw didn't. I did have a really good view, so I couldn't see
the beak, which would have helped. Anyone know if it was a Western
Tanager in different plumage, or an escapee of some exotic bird?

Tyler, I imagine that what you saw was a Second-year male Western
Tanager finishing his molt into 'full' plumage. Late July seems too
early for a hatch-year bird to be getting any red in the head...

Jon. Anderson
Olympia, Washington
festuca at olywa.net