Bird Guide

Red-headed Tanager

Piranga erythrocephala

Least ConcernEndemicInvertebratesForestCup nestSmall · 22 g

About the Red-headed Tanager

The red-headed tanager is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks, endemic to Mexico. Comprising two subspecies, it is around 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Males have predominantly yellow-olive plumage with a red head and throat and females have yellow forecrowns.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The red-headed tanager is approximately 15 cm (5.9 in) long and weighs 19.9 to 24.5 g (0.70 to 0.86 oz). The nominate male's forecrown, face, throat and upper chest are red and the rest of the upperparts bright yellow-olive. The rest of the underparts are olive-yellow. It has a narrow black mask. The female's forecrown is yellow and the rest of her upperparts yellow-olive. The throat and chest are yellow that fades to buffy white toward the vent area. The juvenile male looks like a bright female. P. e. candida is similar to the nominate but duller and darker. Voice: The red-headed tanager's song is "a long, slow ...'chur chew che-wier chéé-chur wee chur cheer chéé-chur ...'" or "tsi-tsi tsee-tsee". It has several calls.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Red-headed Tanager lives

Regular range

When to see the Red-headed Tanager

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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