Nature Field Guide
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
- Spanish name
- Tangara de Passerini
- Scientific name
- Ramphocelus passerinii
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico: “I saw a bright red flash near its tail!”
Tati: “That rump patch is the clue. The male’s head stays black.”
Species overview
About the Scarlet-rumped Tanager
An adult male scarlet-rumped tanager is velvety black with a vivid red patch on the lower back above the tail. Its pale silvery bill provides another clear contrast.
Females are much less like males, with brownish, olive and yellowish or orange tones that differ between forms. The names Passerini’s and Cherrie’s tanagers appear in older references; current treatment groups them within this species. Do not create separate cards solely from those older names.
Identification
Key Features of the Scarlet-rumped Tanager
Male black with scarlet rump
Pale silvery bill
Female plumage differs strongly
Habitat & range
Humid lowlands and foothills, secondary growth and wooded gardens on the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. This profile follows the current Costa Rican checklist's combined Scarlet-rumped Tanager treatment, including the southern Pacific form formerly called Cherrie's Tanager.
Local observations
Costa Rica: resident.
When to observe
A resident bird; suitable habitat matters throughout the year. Quiet morning observation is a useful starting point, with activity varying by weather and location.
Conservation & care
Observe quietly from trails or established viewing areas. Give nests, roosts and feeding birds space. Do not handle, chase or lure birds with playback. Keep pets away from wildlife.
Threats & pressures
Protect native vegetation, reduce collision hazards around glass and keep cats away from birds. These are practical prevention priorities, not a claim of a measured decline at a specific Costa Rican site.
Observation activity
Find the rump in a side or rear photograph. Compare it with the head and belly.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Pacific · Northern Plains · South Pacific · Outdoor Adventures · Wildlife & Animals