| Crimson-backed tanager | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male R. d. isthmicus, Panama | |
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| female R. d. molochinus, Colombia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Ramphocelus |
| Species: | R. dimidiatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ramphocelus dimidiatus Lafresnaye, 1837 | |
 | |
The crimson-backed tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela, and introduced to French Polynesia. [2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. [2] A nickname in Panama is sangre de toro ("Blood of the bull"). [3]
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The crimson-backed tanager was first described by French naturalist Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1837. It is one of nine species of brightly coloured tanagers of the genus Ramphocelus . Mitochondrial DNA evidence indicates its closest relative is the masked crimson tanager (R. nigrogularis), and the two split around 800,000 years ago. [4]
Measuring around 18 cm (7.1 in) in length, the adult male has a silver sheen on its lower mandible. [5] Its whole head and chest are a maroon red, brightening to a bright red on its lower back and abdomen. Its wings and tail are black. The female is duller with blackish underparts. [6]
It is found in northern and western Colombia (south to Chocó where it is uncommon [6] ), the Maracaibo Basin in Venezuela, [5] and over most of Panama, where it extends to Chiriquí and Veraguas Provinces in the west of the country, as well as Coiba, where it is abundant, and Pearl Islands. [3] It inhabits forest, scrub and gardens. [5]
A nest with a clutch of two blue eggs with fine dark dots has been recorded. [6]
A field study on blood parasites found that two individual crimson-backed tanagers (out of twelve tested) bore Plasmodium , with the study concluding the overall rate was low compared with studies done elsewhere. [7]
