Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
- GenusPiranga (Piranga Tanagers)
- SpeciesPiranga ludoviciana (Western Tanager)
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 →
Recent sightings of Western Tanager in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park
Flame-colored Tanager
Piranga bidentata
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
White-winged Tanager
Piranga leucoptera
Hepatic Tanager
Piranga flava
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Carmiol's Tanager
Chlorothraupis carmioli
Black-faced Grosbeak
Caryothraustes poliogaster
Black-thighed Grosbeak
Pheucticus tibialis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Blue-black Grosbeak
Cyanocompsa cyanoides
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Blue Seedeater
Amaurospiza concolor
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Western Tanager in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Tanager sighting in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Western Tanager in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Western Tanager in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park in our monthly data.