Hepatic Tanager

Piranga flava

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

20 cm (8") Uncommon. Southwestern United States Mountain forests; oaks and pines.

Male: all reddish. Darker than similar male Summer Tanager. It also has a dark ear patch and a darker bill.

Female: upperparts olive-green. Yellow-orange throat. Gray ear patch and blackish bill help separate it from female Summer Tanager.

Song: Robin-like; a low "chuck" call suggests a Hermit Thrush.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Dominic Sherony

Male - North Roosevelt Trap, Roosevelt Co., NM - April 27, 2012

Credit: Jerry Oldenettel

Credit: Marcel Holyoak

Credit: HarmonyonPlanetEarth

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Hepatic Tanager

Credit: Eric Howe

Hepatic Tanager (female at nest)

Credit: Eric Howe

Where it lives

Distribution map

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Hepatic Tanager (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 17 criteria confidence 2

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Red, or pink · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
Were the SIDES STREAKED, SPOTTED or BARRED ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:1025-hepatic-tanager-male:1:1 Source: 1025 Hepatic Tanager (Male), row 1

Hepatic Tanager (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 2

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Warbler-like · Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:1026-hepatic-tanager-female:1:1 Source: 1026 Hepatic Tanager (Female), row 1