Piranga flava
The Hepatic Tanager, *Piranga flava*, is a striking member of the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), formerly placed in Thraupidae, renowned for its distinctive coloration and montane habitat preferences. Males boast a deep, brick-red plumage across their head and body, contrasting with dusky-olive wings and tail, and a tell-tale dark, stout bill that instantly distinguishes them from other North American *Piranga* species like the Summer Tanager. Females are equally vibrant, displaying a rich y...
Found primarily in open montane pine-oak and evergreen forests, woodlands, and canyons, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters (5,000-10,000 ft).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, but also consumes a significant amount of wild fruits and berries, especially outside the breeding season.
Hepatic Tanagers are diurnal birds, actively foraging during the day and roosting in dense foliage at night. They employ a combination of gleaning, hovering, and flycatching techniques to acquire food, often observed moving deliberately through tree canopies. Males are highly territorial during t...
The Hepatic Tanager has a broad distribution across the Americas, with three main subspecies complexes. The northern subspecies, *P. f. hepatica*, breeds in the mountainous regions of the southwestern United States (southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and locally in southern Utah and w...
Least Concern
- The Hepatic Tanager is the only red tanager in North America to possess a dark bill, a key field mark for identification. - Its name, "Hepatic," refers to the reddish-brown color of a male's plumage, reminiscent of liver. - Once classified in the Tanager family (Thraupidae), genetic studies hav...