Crimson-backed Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyThraupidae (Tanagers and Allies)
- GenusRamphocelus (Silver-billed Tanagers)
- SpeciesRamphocelus dimidiatus (Crimson-backed Tanager)
About the Crimson-backed Tanager
The crimson-backed tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela, and introduced to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. A nickname in Panama is sangre de toro ("Blood of the bull").
The crimson-backed tanager was first described by French naturalist Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1837. It is one of nine species of brightly coloured tanagers of the genus Ramphocelus. Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates its closest relative is the masked crimson tanager (R. nigrogularis), and the two split around 800,000 years ago.
Measuring around 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, the adult male has a silver sheen on its lower mandible. Its whole head and chest are a maroon red, brightening to a bright red on its lower back and abdomen. Its wings and tail are black. The female is duller with blackish underparts.
It is found in northern and western Colombia (south to Chocó where it is uncommon), the Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela, and over most of Panama, where it extends to Chiriquí and Veraguas Provinces in the west of the country, as well as Coiba, where it is abundant, and Pearl Islands. It inhabits forest, scrub and gardens.
A nest with a clutch of two blue eggs with fine dark dots has been recorded. A field study on blood parasites found that two individual crimson-backed tanagers (out of twelve tested) bore Plasmodium, with the study concluding the overall rate was low compared with studies done elsewhere. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Crimson-backed Tanager in Soberanía National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Soberanía National Park
Lemon-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus icteronotus
Flame-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus flammigerus
Palm Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
White-shouldered Tanager
Loriotus luctuosus
Blue Dacnis
Dacnis cayana
Variable Seedeater
Sporophila corvina
Plain-colored Tanager
Tangara inornata
Gray-headed Tanager
Eucometis penicillata
Golden-hooded Tanager
Stilpnia larvata
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Cyanerpes cyaneus
Green Honeycreeper
Chlorophanes spiza
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chagres National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Coiba National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 3 | Tayrona National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 6 | San Lorenzo Protected Forest | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 7 | Puracé National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 8 | Darién National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 9 | Utría National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 10 | Farallones de Cali National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 11 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 12 | Los Nevados National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 13 | Braulio Carrillo National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 14 | Volcán Barú National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Crimson-backed Tanager in Soberanía National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Crimson-backed Tanager sighting in Soberanía National Park, based on 6,045 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Crimson-backed Tanager in Soberanía National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for Crimson-backed Tanager in Soberanía National Park in our monthly data.