Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: cairnstone on October 01, 2015, 11:13:46 AM

Title: Scarlet Tanagers wasping
Post by: cairnstone on October 01, 2015, 11:13:46 AM

I have been getting a lot of Scarlet Tanagers through the yard and neighbourhood this year, but especially the last few weeks. I have been watching them wasping which I had never seen before. They rub the wasp on a branch to break off the stinger and then gulp it down. This one was wasping this morning (October 1), Brampton.

(http://oi58.tinypic.com/110azro.jpg)
(http://oi59.tinypic.com/14soz1v.jpg)
(http://oi62.tinypic.com/2jcabkm.jpg)

Title: Re: Scarlet Tanagers wasping
Post by: Brian Bailey on October 01, 2015, 07:31:48 PM

Cool! I've never seen that before either.


BB

Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.

Title: Re: Scarlet Tanagers wasping
Post by: cairnstone on October 03, 2015, 12:22:42 PM

I have been watching them catch wasps flycatcher-style the last few weeks, but wondered how they could avoid being stung. A closer look revealed their technique.