Passerini's Tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii)

23 January 2009, Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica http://aboutcostarica.biz/ranchonaturalista/index.html Photo taken in the rain. Raindrops evident on the feeding tray. This striking tanager was very common at the feeders, but the contrasting deep black coloration with brilliant scarlet rump and pale bill made photography surprisingly difficult. This species was formerly lumped with Cherrie's Tanager (R. costaricensis) of the Pacific slope and both went by the name Scarlet-rumped Tanager. The males of the two species are identical, but the females differ strongly. Hacket (1996) reported strong difference in mDNA between the two. However, there is no range overlap and the split by the AOU has been questioned by Stiles and other. This is an adult male. Immature males resemble females and may breed in female-like plumage. More on this in a future post. Panasonic Lumix LZ5 / Nikon Fieldscope 3 / 30X WA / hand-held (no adapter) Reference: HACKETT, S. J. 1996. Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of tanagers in the genus Ramphocelus (Aves). Molecular Phylogenetics Evolution 5: 368-382. http://fm1.fieldmuseum.org/aa/staff_abstract.cgi?staff=hackett&id=394