Hepatic Tanager
Piranga flava
Large, stocky tanager. Males are red with dusty wash on upperparts and sides (especially on northern populations); females are muted yellowish. Both sexes are brightest on the throat and crown. Also note stout bill and dark lores. Several separate populations occur from the southwestern U.S. to South America, probably comprising multiple different species. Northern birds prefer mountainous areas with mixed pine-oak forest. South American birds found in a variety of forested habitats, from open woodlands in the lowlands to scrubby areas in the high Andes. Most similar to Summer Tanager, but grayer tones to plumage and usually different habitat. Song is sweet like American Robin: mostly clear phrases with some hoarser notes.
Identification
The hepatic tanager (Piranga hepatica) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of the genus Piranga are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae).
Taxonomy
Genus: Piranga; Family: Cardinalidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Piranga flava
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Genus
- Piranga
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-browed Forest-Flycatcher
Fraseria cinerascens
An easily overlooked flycatcher of lowland forests near large waterways, lurking in the lower parts of the forest in shady areas or near cover. Distinctively dark gray above and pale scalloped gray below, with a bright white throat and a bright white spot in front of the eye. Distinguished from other flycatchers by its affinity for water combined with its bright white lores. Song consists of long, deliberate buzzy whistles rising and falling in pitch: “Dzhreee? Dzhreeerr. Dzhreeeer?”
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
Slender and streaked pipit. Feeds on the ground like other pipits, but perches readily in trees or bushes when singing, or alights in tree at end of parachuting song flight. As the name suggests, usually associated with trees (on breeding grounds), but also found in agricultural areas and grassy scrub in winter. All pipits look rather similar and are best identified to species by combination of habitat and voice: Tree Pipit call a high, shrill, buzzy "tzzz"; song more melodic and varied than Meadow Pipit song.
Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus superciliaris
Possibly the species to which the moniker of “scimitar-babbler” attaches most fittingly, as this inhabitant of high-altitude evergreen forests has a bill shaped like a curved sword. Predominantly orange-brown, with a gray head and jagged white eyebrow. Easily identified, even if seen only in silhouette; no other babbler in its range has such a long, sharply curved bill. Moves through the lower levels of the forest in large, noisy flocks.
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