Meet the Boys in Red

When the boys in red bathe-off, one might have the impression the bathe-off is between a pair of male Northern Cardinals.  In fact, the male on the left in the photo is a Summer Tanager.  Tanagers are much more elusive than Cardinals, but once you see them side-by-side you'll see that their red colors are different, the Tanager has a yellow (vs orange) beak, and the Cardinal has a black mask and head-crest whereas the Tanager does not.

Birdbath competitions seem to happen quite often around here -- usually it's boys being boys.  A female Cardinal had been bathing when the Tanager swooped in.  Who knows if the male Cardinal felt a need to show the Tanager who is the baddest boy in town.