Hepatic tanager


The hepatic tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family, it and other members of the genus Piranga are now classified in the cardinal family. The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.

Range and habitat

The common name hepatic means "liver-coloured", namely, brownish-red. The specific name groups, which may be separate species:
It ranges from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina.
Members of the northern group are larger and stockier than other Piranga tanagers and have a relatively short tail and a stout bill. Its brightest color is always on its forehead and throat. In all plumages, it has gray flanks, dusky cheeks, and a dark eye streak. The female is yellow, and the male is red. Its average weight is. Its average wingspan is and length is.

Behavior

The habits of the hepatic tanager are similar to those of the western tanager.
Its call is a low, dry chup like the hermit thrush. Its song is clearer than Thraupidae tanagers and far more similar to the song of the black-headed grosbeak, another member of the Cardinalidae. The flight call is a husky and rising weet.
It looks for food in the foliage of trees, moving slowly and methodically; different individuals use different strategies. In summer, the northern form largely eats insects, spiders and some fruit. In Mexico, it has been observed to eat nectar. From Oaxaca south, it follows swarms of army ants.
Even the northern population's behavior and life history are remarkably little known.