Hawking constituted the remainder of western tanager foraging observations. Large trees are considered an important component of stands for western tanager. The habits of the hepatic tanager are similar to those of the western tanager. Hymenopterans, mostly wasps and ants constituted 75% of insects in western tanager stomachs in August. Domestic cats also preyed on western tanager in British Columbia. Western tanager may preferentially forage on certain species. There are also birds, such as western tanager and small game like the marmot. Western tanager may associate with or avoid some plant species. Western tanager obtain their food by foliage gleaning and hawking. Western tanager densities on the treatment and control sites were more similar the following year. Western tanager nest in 2nd-growth and mature conifer and mixed forests. Western tanager nests are parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds ("Molothrus aster"). The western tanager ("Piranga ludoviciana"), is a medium-sized American songbird.