Black-bellied Tanager (Ramphocelus melanogaster)

Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

black-bellied_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Male  | Loc. Moyobamba, San Martin

black-bellied_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Female  | Loc. Moyobamba, San Martin

black-bellied_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Male  | Loc. Moyobamba, San Martin

black-bellied_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Female  | Loc. Moyobamba, San Martin


Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (6.6 in). The male Black-bellied Tanager (aka, Huallaga Tanager) has a red-wine head, neck, and breast. The rest of the underparts and rump are bright red, with black in the center of the belly.  The female is reddish-dusky with reddish belly and rump. It forages in semi-open habitats, forest edges, and scrub. It is similar to the Silver-beaked Tanager but the Black-bellied Tanager ranges at higher elevations. These two species are known to overlap only locally. Also, see Masked-crimson Tanager.

Status: Endemic. The Black-bellied Tanager is restricted to the Mayo and Alto Huallaga Valleys at elevations ranging between 500-1800 m.

Name in Spanish: Tangara de Vientre Negro.

Sub-species: Black-bellied Tanager (Ramphocelus melanogaster melanogaster), (Swainson), 1838. N Peru in San Martín and Huánuco (to confluence of R Huayabamba and R Huallaga) S to NW Ucayali (R Ucayali).
(Ramphocelus melanogaster transitus), J. T. Zimmer, 1929. N Peru in San Martín and Huánuco (to confluence of R Huayabamba and R Huallaga) S to NW Ucayali (R Ucayali).

Meaning of Name: Ramphocelus: Gr. Rhamphos= bill and koilos= concave. melanogaster: Gr. melas, melanos= black; gaster, gastros= belly.

See more of the Family Thraupidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
black-bellied_tanagerVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2016.