Red-capped Cardinal
Paroaria gularis
The Red-capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis) is a uncommon tanager found in 10 countries, weighing about 24 g. The red-capped cardinal is a small species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.
About the Red-capped Cardinal
The red-capped cardinal is a small species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in South America.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult red-capped cardinal is 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long and weighs about 22 g (0.78 oz). The nominate subspecies has a crimson head, blackish lores and ocular region, and shiny black upperparts, apart from a white partial collar extending up the neck sides from the white underparts. The throat is black, extending to a point on the upper chest. The upper mandible is black, while the lower is pale flesh-coloured. The legs are dark grey (almost black) and the iris is brownish-orange.
What the Red-capped Cardinal sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Taiwan.
When to see it
The Red-capped Cardinal can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Red-capped Cardinal?
- The adult red-capped cardinal is 16.5 cm (6.5 in) long and weighs about 22 g (0.78 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Red-capped Cardinal?
- The Red-capped Cardinal is a small sized bird weighing about 24 g.
- Where can you see a Red-capped Cardinal?
- The Red-capped Cardinal occurs in 10 countries, including Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia.
- What does a Red-capped Cardinal sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Red-capped Cardinal on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Red-capped Cardinal?
- The Red-capped Cardinal is most easily confused with the Red-cowled Cardinal, the Masked Cardinal and the Yellow-billed Cardinal.
- Is the Red-capped Cardinal endangered?
- The Red-capped Cardinal is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Red-capped Cardinal for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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