Rare Summer Tanager in Qualicum Beach
A rare Summer Tanager spotted in Qualicum Beach over Valentine’s weekend created rare winter excitement on Vancouver Island. This bright yellow individual, a female or immature, shows olive upperparts and a thick pale bill. Summer Tanagers breed in the southern United States and rarely are seen in British Columbia. This makes a Qualicum Beach sighting highly sought after for Canadian birding tours. If you’re interested in rare birding experiences, the Rare Summer Tanger sighting this winter on Vancouver Island was truly special. A cool fact is their nickname, “bee bird,” for catching bees and wasps in flight. Backyard feeders with mixed seed can briefly attract wandering individuals during unusual winter movements. Rare birds of British Columbia can be found on the Rare Bird Alert here.
