Rufous-headed Tanager

About the Rufous-headed Tanager

The rufous-headed tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is endemic to Brazil. The rufous-headed tanager was formally described in 1818 with the binomial Nemosia ruficapilla. It was eventually reassigned to its present genus Hemithraupis that the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis erected in 1851. The rufous-headed tanager and the guira tanager (H. guira) hybrize where their ranges overlap; they are sister species and form a superspecies.

The rufous-headed tanager has two subspecies, the nominate H. r. ruficapilla (Vieillot, 1818) and H. r. bahiae (Zimmer, JT, 1947). They are very similar and some authors suggest that they be lumped. The rufous-headed tanager is about 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 11 to 13 g (0.39 to 0.46 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a mostly rich reddish chestnut head with a large bright yellow crescent behind the ear coverts. Their nape and back are olive with a yellowish tinge and their rump dark orange-rufous. Their uppertail coverts are mostly yellowish with the longest being yellowish olive... Wikipedia →