Piranga

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Piranga
Piranga olivacea1.jpg
Scarlet tanager
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Piranga
Vieillot, 1808
Type species
Muscicapa rubra [1] = Fringilla rubra
Linnaeus, 1766
Species

See species list

Piranga is a genus of birds long placed in the tanager family, but now considered members of the family Cardinalidae. The genus name Piranga is from Tupi word tijepiranga, the name for an unknown small bird.

Similar in shape and habits to the true tanagers, their coloration betrays their actual relationships. They are essentially red, orange, or yellow all over, except the tail and wings, and in some species also the back. Such extensive lipochrome coloration (except on the belly) is very rare in true tanagers, but is widespread among the Cardinalidae.

These songbirds are found high in tree canopies, and are not very gregarious in their breeding areas. Piranga species pick insects from leaves, or sometimes in flight. They also take some fruit. Several species are migratory, breeding in North America and wintering in the tropics.

Taxonomy and species list

The genus Piranga was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1808 with the summer tanager (Piranga rubra) as the type species. [2] [3] The genus name Piranga is from the Tupi Tijepiranga, the name for an unknown small bird. [4]

ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Flame-colored Tanager 2.jpg P. bidentata Flame-colored tanager Mexico, and throughout Central America to northern Panama
Red-headed Tanager (Piranga erythrocephala) (8079395236).jpg P. erythrocephala Red-headed tanager Mexico
Piranga hepatica.jpg P. flava Hepatic tanager Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, and locally in southern California and Colorado) to northern Argentina and Uruguay
Piranga leucoptera - Waraira Repano National Park, Venezuela -male-8 (cropped).jpg P. leucoptera White-winged tanager Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
Western Tanager piranga ludoviciana; body visible, male.jpg P. ludoviciana Western tanager Southeastern Alaska south to northern Baja California, Mexico. Western tanagers extend east to western Texas and north through central New Mexico, central Colorado, extreme northwest Nebraska, and areas of western South Dakota to southern Northwest Territories, Canada
Scarlet Tanager (7467759484).jpg P. olivacea Scarlet tanager Eastern United States. Migrate to Central and northern South America
Piranga roseogularis 64951842.jpg P. roseogularis Rose-throated tanager Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico
Summer Tanager - Texas - USA H8O9934 (23250423155).jpg P. rubra Summer tanager Southern United States, extending as far north as Iowa. These birds migrate to Mexico, Central America and northern South America
Piranga rubriceps Red-hooded Tanager; Abra Patricia, Peru.jpg P. rubriceps Red-hooded tanager Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinalidae</span> Bird family

Cardinalidae is a family of New World-endemic passerine birds that consists of cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. It also includes several other genera such as the tanager-like Piranga and the warbler-like Granatellus. Membership of this family is not easily defined by a single or even a set of physical characteristics, but instead by molecular work. Among songbirds, they range from average-sized to relatively large, and have stout features, some species with large, heavy bills.

<i>Passerina</i> Genus of birds in the cardinal family

The genus Passerina is a group of birds in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). Although not directly related to buntings in the family Emberizidae, they are sometimes known as the North American buntings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet tanager</span> Species of bird

The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Until recently, it was placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), but it and other members of its genus are now classified as belonging to the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species' plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family, although the Piranga species lacks the thick conical bill that many cardinals possess. The species resides in thick deciduous woodlands and suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer tanager</span> Species of bird

The summer tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-lined tanager</span> Species of bird

The white-lined tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is a resident breeder from Costa Rica south to northern Argentina and on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-crowned ant tanager</span> Species of bird

The red-crowned ant tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird from tropical America. The genus Habia was long placed with the tanagers (Thraupidae), but it is actually closer to the cardinals (Cardinalidae). Consequently, it can be argued that referring to the members of this genus as ant-tanagers is misleading, but no other common name has gained usage.

<i>Saltator</i> Genus of birds

Saltator is a genus of passerine birds in the tanager family Thraupidae that are found in Central and South America. They have thick bills, relatively long tails and strong legs and feet. Before the introduction of molecular genetic methods in the 21st century these species were placed in the cardinal family Cardinalidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue grosbeak</span> Species of bird

The blue grosbeak, is a medium-sized North American passerine bird in the cardinal family Cardinalidae. It is mainly migratory, wintering in Central America and breeding in northern Mexico and the southern United States. The male is blue with two brown wing bars. The female is mainly brown with scattered blue feathers on the upperparts and two brown wing bars.

<i>Lanio</i> Genus of birds

Lanio is the genus of shrike-tanagers in the family Thraupidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-goggled tanager</span> Species of bird

The black-goggled tanager is a species of bird in the family, Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Trichothraupis. It is found at low levels in forest and woodland in a large part of eastern and southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and far north-eastern Argentina, with a disjunct population along the East Andean slope in Peru, Bolivia and far north-western Argentina. While generally common and widespread, and consequently considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN, the population associated with the Andes is relatively local and uncommon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fawn-breasted tanager</span> Species of bird

The fawn-breasted tanager is a species of tanager with a blue head and yellow breast. It occurs in the Andes of northwestern Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, as well as in the highlands of northeastern Argentina, south Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

<i>Nemosia</i> Genus of birds

Nemosia is a genus of South American birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.

<i>Paroaria</i> Genus of birds

Paroaria, the red-headed cardinals or cardinal-tanagers, are a genus of tanagers. They were until recently placed in the family Emberizidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallow tanager</span> Species of bird

The swallow tanager is a species of Neotropic bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Tersina. It is found widely throughout South America, from eastern Panama to far northern Argentina. The species is sexually dimorphic: the female is a yellow-green and the male a turquoise blue with a small deep black face and upper throat patch.

<i>Arremon</i> Genus of birds

Arremon is a genus of neotropical birds in the family Passerellidae. With the exception of the green-striped brushfinch which is endemic to Mexico, all species are found in South America, with a few reaching Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pectoral sparrow</span> Species of bird

The pectoral sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The Brazilian name for this species is tico-tico-de-bico-preto, which in translation means "black billed sparrow".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-backed tanager</span> Species of bird

The blue-backed tanager is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Cyanicterus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow cardinal</span> Species of bird

The yellow cardinal is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of its genus, Gubernatrix. It is very rare and can only be found in South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fulvous shrike-tanager</span> Species of bird

The fulvous shrike-tanager is a South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hooded tanager</span> Species of bird

The hooded tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and heavily degraded former forest.

References

  1. "Cardinalidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. Vieillot, Louis Pierre (1807). Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de l'Amérique Septentrionale : contenant un grand nombre d'espèces décrites ou figurées pour la première fois (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Chez Desray. p. iv. For a discussion of the publication date see: Dickinson, E.C.; Overstreet, L.K.; Dowsett, R.J.; Bruce, M.D. (2011). Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology: a Directory to the literature and its reviewers. Northampton, UK: Aves Press. p. 157. ISBN   978-0-9568611-1-5.
  3. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1970). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 13. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 301.
  4. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 308. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.