Flame-rumped Tanager with this subspecies being called the Lemon-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus icteronotus) This is a distinct taxon and whether one opts to treat it at the species level or at the subspecies level under the Flame-rumped Tanager (R. flammigerus icteronotus) is irrelevant to me. When treated at the species level it is a monotypic species and when treated at the subspecies level under the Flame-rumped Tanager there are two subspecies recognized, the nominate and subspecies icteronotus. At least within the same group of birds the same standards of species recognition should be adhered to. The Passerinis Tanager (R. passerinii) and the Cherries Tanager (R. costaricensis) once considered conspecific is now considered distinct. This pair of tanagers is very closely related as is the Lemon-rumped and Flame-rumped tanagers. The point is, either both pairs of tanagers should be treated as being distinct or both pairs should be treated as subspecies under the oldest named bird of the pair. Photographed at Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Antn, Cocl Province, Panama. Riparian along Rio Guayabo, surrounded by secondary humid forest at ca. 622 m (2,042 ft) elevation.
