23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - FLAME COLOURED TANAGER (MALE) (Piranga bidentata)

The flame-colored tanager (Piranga bidentata), formerly known as the stripe-backed tanager, is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found from Mexico throughout Central America to northern Panama and occasionally in the United States; four subspecies are recognized. The flame-colored tanager is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long, the male having predominantly red-orange while the female is more yellowish orange.

English naturalist William Swainson described the flame-colored tanager in 1827 from material collected by William Bullock and his son from a specimen from Temascaltepec in Mexico. French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye described Piranga sanguinolenta as a separate species in 1839, though the two were generally regarded as conspecific by the end of the 19th century.

A 2019 genetic study using mitochondrial DNA showed that the flame-colored tanager was the sister taxon of the western tanager (P. ludoviciana).

The flame-colored 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.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - FLAME COLOURED TANAGER (MALE) (Piranga bidentata)

The Flame-colored Tanager, Piranga bidentata, is a medium-sized songbird of vibrant plumage. Males are adorned with a striking red-orange hue, while females exhibit a more subdued yellowish-orange. This species, once known as the stripe-backed tanager, belongs to the family Cardinalidae.

The Flame-colored Tanager, Piranga bidentata, is a medium-sized songbird of vibrant plumage. Males are adorned with a striking red-orange hue, while females exhibit a more subdued yellowish-orange. This species, once known as the stripe-backed tanager, belongs to the family Cardinalidae.

Adult males are characterized by their red-orange head and underparts, transitioning to a yellower tone near the vent. A distinctive brown patch is present below the eye, extending from the bill to behind the eye. The mantle and back are dusky orange with an olive tint, and the rump is paler with minimal streaking. Females share a similar pattern but with a yellow head and underparts, and an olive back marked with black streaks.

The Flame-colored Tanager is typically found in the canopy of humid montane forests, as well as in large trees within non-forested areas such as pastures, coffee plantations, and gardens. It also frequents open oak and pine-oak woodlands and is generally a bird of the mountains, although it can be found at sea level in Guatemala.

This species ranges from Mexico through Central America to northern Panama. It is occasionally sighted in the United States, with rare nesting occurrences. The four recognized subspecies have distinct geographical distributions within this range.

The Flame-colored Tanager is largely resident, though it may move to lower elevations during winter. It typically forages alone or in pairs and may join mixed-species flocks. It is known to sally out for flying insects and descend to the ground for fruit.

The song of the Flame-colored Tanager resembles that of a vireo, described as a rich, musical series of notes. Its call is noted as "per-dick" or "chi-dick".

Nesting occurs in dense foliage or isolated trees and shrubs in more open areas. The nest is an open cup made of coarse material lined with fine grass. Breeding has been documented in the spring months.

The diet consists of small arthropods and various berries. This tanager has been observed ambushing swarms of army ants to feed on the insects they carry.

The IUCN has classified the Flame-colored Tanager as Least Concern. It is found in several protected areas and is less sensitive to environmental disturbance compared to many other species.