Species Spotlight: Scarlet-rumped Tanager

Introduction of the Species

The Scarlet-rumped Tanager is one of those birds that makes tropical bird photography so addictive. Bold, colorful, and often quite approachable, it adds a punch of color to forest edges, gardens, and feeding setups across parts of Central America.

Physical Description

Males are mostly black with a vivid scarlet rump, along with a silvery bill and dark red eye. Females look quite different, with a grayish head, olive upperparts, and warm ochre underparts. It is a bird that gives you two very different looks depending on who lands in front of you.

Native Habitat

This species is common in semi-open country, second growth, woodland edges, gardens, and brushy pastures from lowlands up to mid-elevations. It tends to like places where forest meets open space, which is convenient for photographers and appreciated by anyone who prefers not to bushwhack before breakfast.

Migration Patterns in North America

The Scarlet-rumped Tanager is a resident species of South America and does not migrate through North America in the way many songbirds do.

Food and Eating Habits

It feeds on small fruit, insects, and spiders, and it often appears in pairs, small groups, or mixed-species flocks. In areas with fruiting trees or feeders, it can become one of the regular stars of the show.

Join Us in Costa Rica

For photographers who love clean color, tropical backgrounds, and lively perches, birds like the Scarlet-rumped Tanager are part of what makes Costa Rica such a rewarding place to learn and photograph.