Scarlet-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus passerinii
Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors evergreen forest edges, plantations, and verdant second growth, such as areas along roadsides. Forages mainly at low to middle levels often in fairly noisy small groups. Male is unmistakable if seen clearly: velvety black with a blinding scarlet rump. Female is very different: note distinctive bluish-white bill, tawny rump, and grayish head. Formerly known as Cherrie's Tanager and Passerini's Tanager.
Identification
The adult Scarlet-rumped tanager is 16 cm long and weighs 31 g. The adult male is mainly black except for a scarlet rump, silvery bill and dark red iris. The female has a grey head, olive upperparts becoming brighter and paler on the rump, brownish wings and tail and ochre underparts. The female's plumage is the one that differs most from Cherrie's tanager. Immatures have an orange tint to the underparts and rump, and look like a paler and duller female Cherrie's tanager.<p>The Passerini's tanager's call is a sharp wac. Its song consists of a few clear pleasant notes, delivered in shorter phrases than that of its Pacific relative.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ramphocelus passerinii
- Authority
- Bonaparte, 1831
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Ramphocelus
Behavior
It is very common from sea level to 1200 m altitude, and occurs occasionally up to 1700 m. The preferred habitat is semi-open areas including light second growth, woodland edges, gardens and pasture with bushes.<p>Passerini's tanagers occur in pairs, small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock, and up to a dozen birds may roost together in dense thickets at night. This species feeds on certain small fruit, usually swallowed whole, insects and spiders.<p>The cup nest is built up to 6 m high in a tree. The normal clutch is two pale blue or grey eggs, marked with black, brown or lilac. This species will sometimes raise two broods in a season
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-bellied Bustard
Eupodotis senegalensis
A small, tawny-backed bustard with a reddish base to the bill and a strongly demarcated white belly. The male has a blue-gray neck and dark facial markings. Small groups strut through open grassland and bush at elevations below 2000 m. Often first detected by a characteristic, continuous, croaking, nasal “anghara-anghara”, as well as by other similar calls. Female White-bellied Bustard strongly resembles female Black-bellied Bustard, but White-bellied has a shorter neck and legs and white rather than black foreparts to the underwing.
Wreathed Hornbill
Rhyticeros undulatus
A large and stately hornbill of expansive montane forests. Both sexes are black with snow-white tails. The male has a yellow face and throat patch, while the female has a red patch of skin around the eye and a blue throat patch. Usually seen in pairs or medium-sized flocks, flying between fruiting trees. Usually the only hornbill in highland areas. Gives loud hoarse trumpeting croaks, often while in flight. As with many other large hornbills, wings create a powerful thrumming when flying.
White-bearded Hermit
Phaethornis hispidus
Large gray and green hermit of understory rainforest. Gray below, green above with gray rump and white long central tail feathers. Fairly long, slightly downcurved bill, and prominent white throat and moustache. Sexes similar. Similar to Great-billed Hermit, which is more tawny brown overall (not gray), and has a red or orange lower mandible (not yellow). Found in a variety of lowland rainforest habitats; most common around forest edges, along rivers, and around heliconias.
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