Rose-throated Tanager

The rose-throated tanager, Piranga roseogularis, is a medium-sized songbird of the family Cardinalidae, known for its cardinal relations and cardinal grosbeaks. This bird is a native resident of the Yucatán Peninsula, gracing the forests of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico with its presence. The male is distinguished by its greyish plumage, adorned with a deep rose throat and crown, while the female boasts a yellow crown and throat, with a more subdued palette of yellowish olive and pale grey to whitish underparts.

Identification Tips

To identify the rose-throated tanager, look for the male's striking deep rose crown and throat, with the rest of the body in shades of grey and crimson highlights on the folded wings and tail. The female, on the other hand, can be recognized by her yellow crown and throat, yellowish olive upper parts, and pale grey to whitish underparts. The species includes three subspecies, with variations in paleness and darkness among them.

Habitat

The rose-throated tanager is most commonly found at the edges of semi-humid and humid mature forests, as well as in the undergrowth of scrubby forests. It may also venture into areas with scrub and scattered trees, from sea level up to 250 meters in elevation.

Distribution

The nominate subspecies inhabits the northern, drier part of the Yucatán Peninsula. The P. r. tincta subspecies is found in the more humid southern peninsula, northern Guatemala, and Belize. The P. r. cozumelae is exclusive to the islands of Mujeres and Cozumel off the eastern coast of the peninsula.

Behaviour

The rose-throated tanager is an active forager, exploring various levels of the forest from undergrowth to canopy. It is known to join mixed-species foraging flocks and has been observed following army ant swarms.

Song & calls

The male's song is a rich warble, reminiscent of 'whee chee cheer-el-chee cheer-el-cheu chee-el-chu…', while its calls include a nasal "rreh" and a mewing "myaaa".

Breeding

Currently, there is no published information on the breeding phenology of the rose-throated tanager.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the rose-throated tanager as Least Concern. Despite facing environmental pressures within its range, the species does not appear to be at immediate risk.