Crimson-collared Tanager, Ramphocelus sanguinolentus

Crimson-collared Tanager, Ramphocelus sanguinolentus. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California, taken at Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica, on the eastern slope of the south central mountains at an elevation of 900 m (2,950 feet), February 2016.

Background and Identification

The Crimson-collared Tanager, Ramphocelus sanguinolentus is a member of the Thraupidae Family of Tanagers and Allies. They have vivid plumage and its call is a series of clear, whistled notes. These tanagers are often seen in pairs or small groups, foraging for fruits and insects in the forest canopy or middle levels of vegetation. In Mexico, this species is called Tángara Cuellirroja.

They are small in stature. Due to limited studies, the average lengths and masses are not available from fieldwork. The plumage of males and females is similar, called sexual monomorphism. Predominately black plumage with deep crimson red crown, neck, breast, and tail coverts. The bill is blueish-grey to white. Juveniles are duller and the red parts are more brick red than crimson. Juveniles obtain the plumage of adults quickly.

Habitat and Geographical Range

It inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, forest edges, plantations, and occasionally gardens, typically at elevations up to 1,200 m (3,900 feet). They are primarily found in humid environments. They consume insects and seasonal fruits when available.

Geographically, The Crimson-collared Tanager is primarily found in the lowland forests and edges of Central America. Its range extends from southern Mexico (the Yucatán Peninsula) through Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and into western Panama. In Mexico, they have a limited distribution being found only within the Atlantic Slope in the southern states of Veracruz and Tabasco and within the Pacific Slope in the State of Chiapas at elevations below 1,100 m (3,600 feet).

Common Misidentifications

The Crimson-collared Tanager can be confused with the Passerini’s Tanager, Ramphocelus passerinii, a species that shares similar coloration. However, the Passerini’s Tanager has a black back and red rump, whereas the Crimson-collared Tanager’s red is more extensive, covering almost its entire body. Another potential lookalike is the Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Ramphocelus passerinii but the difference in red distribution helps in distinguishing between the two species. The red is confined to the rump in the Scarlet-rumped Tanager.

Conservation Status

From a conservation perspective, the Crimson-collared Tanager is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. Despite deforestation and habitat loss in some parts of Central America, the species has shown adaptability to disturbed habitats, such as plantations and secondary-growth forests.