Western Tanager
Western TanagerWestern TanagerWestern TanagerWestern Tanager

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Braulio Carrillo National Park
5 Verified sightings at Braulio Carrillo National Park From 2019 to 2026
6,743 Verified sightings across all 37 parks From 2019 to 2026
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Western Tanager

The western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.

The western tanager was illustrated and formally described by American ornithologist Alexander Wilson in 1811 under the binomial name Tanagra ludoviciana from a specimen collected on the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). The type locality is Kamiah, Idaho. The specific epithet is from the Late Latin ludovicianus for "Louis". The name is from Louisiana, the 18th-century French administrative district of New France, rather than the modern state. The western tanager is now placed in the genus Piranga that was introduced by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1808. The species is monotypic; no subspecies are recognized.

Measurements: Length: 6.3–7.5 in (16–19 cm) Weight: 0.8–1.3 oz (24–36 g) Wingspan: 11.5 in (29 cm) Adults have pale, stout pointed bills, yellow underparts, and light wing bars. Adult males have a bright red face and... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Braulio Carrillo National Park

Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Flame-colored Tanager
LC

Flame-colored Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga bidentata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Scarlet Tanager
LC

Scarlet Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga olivacea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Hepatic Tanager
LC

Hepatic Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga flava

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
White-winged Tanager
LC

White-winged Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga leucoptera

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Black-faced Grosbeak
LC

Black-faced Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Caryothraustes poliogaster

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Carmiol's Tanager

Carmiol's Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chlorothraupis carmioli

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Blue-black Grosbeak
LC

Blue-black Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocompsa cyanoides

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Painted Bunting
LC

Painted Bunting

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Passerina ciris

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
LC

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-thighed Grosbeak
LC

Black-thighed Grosbeak

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pheucticus tibialis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager
LC

Red-crowned Ant-Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Habia rubica

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
2 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
3 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
4 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
5 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
6 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
7 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
8 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
9 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
10 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
12 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
14 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
15 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
16 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
17 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
18 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
19 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
20 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
22 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
23 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
27 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
28 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
32 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
33 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
34 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
35 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
36 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Western Tanager in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Tanager sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Western Tanager in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

April has the highest sighting rate for Western Tanager in Braulio Carrillo National Park in our monthly data.

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