Scarlet-rumped tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet-rumped tanager |
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| Genus: |
Ramphocelus
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| Species: |
passerinii
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The scarlet-rumped tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) is a medium-sized passerine bird known for its bright colors. A passerine is a type of bird that has feet designed for perching, like on branches. This beautiful tanager lives in the lowlands along the Caribbean coast. You can find it from southern Mexico down to western Panama.
For a while, this bird was called Passerini's Tanager. This name honored Carlo Passerini, a professor from the Museum of Zoology of the University of Florence. This change happened when another similar bird, the Cherrie's tanager, was thought to be a separate species. However, in 2018, scientists decided that the Cherrie's Tanager was actually the same species. So, the bird's name went back to the scarlet-rumped tanager.
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What Does the Scarlet-Rumped Tanager Look Like?
Adult scarlet-rumped tanagers are about 16 cm (about 6 inches) long. They weigh around 31 g, which is about as much as a few quarters.
Male and Female Differences
The adult male is mostly black. But it has a bright scarlet (bright red) patch on its rump, which is the lower part of its back. It also has a shiny, silvery beak and dark red eyes.
The female looks quite different from the male. She has a grey head and olive-colored feathers on her upper body. These colors become brighter and lighter on her rump. Her wings and tail are brownish, and her belly is a yellowish-brown color. The female's feathers are what make her look most different from the Cherrie's tanager.
Young Tanagers
Young tanagers have a bit of an orange tint on their bellies and rumps. They look like a lighter and less colorful version of the female Cherrie's tanager.
Sounds and Songs
The call of the scarlet-rumped tanager is a sharp sound, like "wac!" When it sings, it makes a few clear and pleasant notes. Its song is shorter than that of its relatives found on the Pacific coast.
Where Do Scarlet-Rumped Tanagers Live and What Do They Eat?
This tanager is very common in areas from sea level up to 1200 m (about 3,900 feet) high. Sometimes, you can even find them up to 1700 m (about 5,600 feet) high.
Preferred Habitat
They like to live in places that are partly open. This includes areas where new plants are growing after old ones were cleared. They also enjoy the edges of woodlands, gardens, and pastures that have bushes.
Social Life and Diet
Scarlet-rumped tanagers can be seen in pairs or small groups. They also sometimes join larger groups of different bird species that are looking for food together. At night, up to a dozen birds might sleep together in thick, bushy areas.
These birds mostly eat small fruit, which they usually swallow whole. They also enjoy eating insects and spiders.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scarlet-rumped tanagers build their nests in trees. The nest is shaped like a cup and can be found up to 6 m (about 20 feet) high.
A female tanager usually lays two eggs. These eggs are pale blue or grey and have marks that are black, brown, or lilac. Sometimes, these birds will raise two sets of baby birds in one season.
