Passerini's Tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) - female
23 January 2009, Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica
This is a female or immature male. Immature males resemble females and may
breed in female-like plumage.
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.
Cherrie's Tanager females have much orange coloration on the breast and
rump lacking in female Passerini's.
The split by the AOU has been questioned by a number of authorities and it
would not surprise me if the AOU eventually changes back to the old
taxonomy.
Panasonic Lumix LZ5 / Nikon Fieldscope 3 / 30X WA / hand-held (no adapter)