Red-hooded tanager explained

The red-hooded tanager (Piranga rubriceps), is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.[1]

Taxonomy and systematics

The red-hooded tanager and the other species of genus Piranga were originally placed in the family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers. Since approximately 2008 they have been placed in their current family. [2] [3] [4]

The red-hooded tanager is monotypic.[1]

Description

The red-hooded tanager is approximately 17cm (07inches) long and weighs 28to. The male is mostly yellowish overall, with a red hood that extends from the head to the breast. The female is similar, but duller overall, and the red of the head does not extend onto the breast.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The red-hooded tanager is found in the Western, Central, and Eastern Andes of Colombia and on the eastern slope of the Andes south through Ecuador to Peru's Huánuco Province. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid montane forest, especially those heavy with mosses and epiphytes. In Colombia it ranges in elevation from 1700to, in Ecuador mostly between 2200and, and in Peru from approximately 1800to.[5]

Behavior

Feeding

The red-hooded tanager forages by hopping through branches and foliage in the mid- to upper storeys of the forest, often in the open. It travels in pairs or small groups, and about half the time joins mixed-species foraging flocks.[5]

Breeding

A female red-hooded tanager in breeding condition was noted in Colombia's Western Andes in September. No other information about the species' breeding phenology has been published.[5]

Vocalization

The red-hooded tanager's song is "a combination of thin trills, e.g., 'tititititi', interspersed with sweeter, more musical phrases such as 'tswe, weéteetseet-see'" https://www.xeno-canto.org/251401. Another song is rendered "tsee-ee-ee-ee" https://www.xeno-canto.org/261231. Its calls include "spink!" and "tink!" notes https://www.xeno-canto.org/510725.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IOC World Bird List (v 11.1) . Gill . F. . Donsker. D.. Rasmussen . P. . January 2021 . January 14, 2021 .
  2. Klicka . J. . Burns . K. . Spellman . G. M. . 2007 . Defining a monophyletic Cardinalini: A molecular perspective . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 45 . 3 . 1014–1032 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2007.07.006 . 17920298 .
  3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 19 January 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 19, 2021
  4. R. Terry Chesser, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, and Kevin Winker. "Fiftieth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds". The Auk 2009, vol. 126:705-714 retrieved May 15, 2021
  5. Hilty, S. (2020). Red-hooded Tanager (Piranga rubriceps), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rehtan2.01 retrieved May 16, 2021