From Opus

Revision as of 10:44, 28 February 2009

Piranga flava

Male. Photo by: nomdeploom
Location: Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, USA.

Female. Photo by: nomdeploom
Location: Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, USA.

Identification

20cm (8"). Dark red to orange-red, grey wash on back and flanks. Grey-red cheek patch. Heavy, slightly hooked, and dark bill. Female - olive-green upperparts and yellow-orange underparts with grey wash on flanks. Juvenile has paler underparts, brown streaks, and buff-gray wing-bars.

Distribution

In the U.S.A, summers in Arizona and New Mexico. Thence south through Mexico and Central America. Other populations are found in western and northern South America (primarily in highlands), and widely in eastern South America. Northern populations are largely migratory, southern are resident or only take part in local movements.

Taxonomy

Several subspecies exists. These fall into three main groups that sometimes are considered separate species: The Northern Hepatic Tanager (P. hepatica), the Highland Hepatic Tanager (P. lutea) and the Lowland Hepatic Tanager (P. flava).

Habitat

Open pine and pine-oak forests, often near water.

Behaviour

Diet includes insects, figs, ripe guavas, and other fruits.

External Links