Scientific name: Piranga flammigerus
Taxonomic classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Cardinalidae (cardinals and grosbeaks)
- Genus: Piranga
- Species: P. flammigerus
Common names
- Flame‑colored tanager
- Flame‑tanager
- Flame‑colored grosbeak
Identification
The flame‑colored tanager is a medium‑sized songbird, measuring approximately 13–15 cm (5–6 in) in length. Adults display a striking plumage: the head, throat, and upper breast are bright orange‑red, the back and wings are a darker reddish‑brown, and the lower breast and belly are a contrasting yellowish‑white. The bill is stout, conical, and dark. Juveniles are generally duller, with more muted colors and olive tones on the back.
Distribution and habitat
Piranga flammigerus inhabits the montane forests of Central America, ranging from southern Mexico (Oaxaca and Chiapas) through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and into western Panama. It prefers humid, subtropical to tropical forest edges, secondary growth, and coffee plantations at elevations of 1,000–2,500 m (3,300–8,200 ft).
Behavior and ecology
- Diet: Primarily frugivorous, feeding on a variety of small fruits, berries, and seeds. Insects and spiders are also taken, especially during the breeding season.
- Foraging: Often observed singly or in pairs, but may join mixed‑species feeding flocks in the canopy and mid‑story.
- Vocalizations: Calls are a sharp “chip” or “tsip,” while the song consists of a series of high, clear notes delivered in a rapid, melodic phrase.
- Breeding: The breeding season varies by region but generally occurs from March to July. Nests are cup‑shaped, constructed from moss, grasses, and spider silk, and placed in the fork of a small branch or in a shrub. Clutch size typically consists of 2–3 eggs, which are pale blue with brown spotting. Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of nestlings.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently lists the flame‑colored tanager as Least Concern due to its relatively wide distribution and tolerance of moderate habitat modification. However, ongoing deforestation and conversion of forest to agriculture may locally reduce suitable habitat.
References
- BirdLife International (2022). Piranga flammigerus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
- Schulenberg, T., et al. (2023). Flame‑colored Tanager (Piranga flammigerus). In Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology).
- del Hoyo, J., et al. (2021). Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 15: Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Grosbeaks). Lynx Edicions.
