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)