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The Cherrie's Tanager (Ramphocelus costaricensis) was formerly known as the Scarlet-rumped Tanager, but was split as a separate species from the Caribbean form, which was itself renamed as Passerini's Tanager, Ramphocelus passerinii.
Cherrie's Tanagers occur in pairs, small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock, and up to a dozen birds may roost together in dense thickets at night.
Description:
The Cherrie's Tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird. Adults average 16 cm in length (including tail) and weighs around 31g.
The adult male is mainly black except for a scarlet rump, silvery bill and dark red iris.
The female has a grey head, olive upperparts, orange rump, brownish wings and tail, and ochre underparts with a broad orange breast band. The female plumage is the one that differs most from Passerini's Tanager.
Immatures look like adult females, except their breast is less orange.
Distribution and Habitat:
This tanager is a resident breeder in the Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
Cherrie's Tanager is very common from sea level to 1200 m altitude, and occurs occasionally up to 1700 m. The preferred habitat is semi-open areas including light second growth, woodland edges, gardens and pasture with bushes.
Diet:
This species feeds on small fruit, insects and spiders.
Breeding:
The cup nest is built up to 6 m high in a tree.
The normal clutch is two pale blue or grey eggs, marked with black, brown or lilac.
This species will sometimes raise two broods in a season.
Species Research by Sibylle Johnson
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