From Opus

Piranga rubra

Male. Photo by Reini
Photo taken: Costa Rica.

[edit] Identification

7-8" (18-20 cm). Male solid rose-red with pale bill. Female pale olive green above, dull yellow below.

[edit] Distribution

Southern United States and northern Mexico.

[edit] Taxonomy

It was placed in the Thraupidae, but is more likely a relative of the cardinals. Consists of two subspecies.

[edit] Subspecies¹

• P. r. cooperi - breeds southwest US and northern Mexico. Winters to southern Baja and southern Mexico.
• P. r. rubra - breeds southeast US. Winters to Amazonian Brazil and n. Bolivia.

[edit] Habitat

Open woodland along streams.

[edit] Behaviour

It catches bees in flight, killing them by beating against a branch; the stinger is removed by rubbing it on a branch. It then eats the bee. It also eats wasp larvae. It first catches the adult insects and then perches near the nest to tear it open and get the grubs.

It builds an open cup nest of dried grasses and other vegetation. 3-4 pale blue to pale green, marked with dark spots and blotches, eggs are laid.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

[edit] External Links