AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Piranga rubra
Summer Tanager
Linnaeus, 1758
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
It is a medium-sized passerine bird with a robust body and a notably thick, pointed bill of an ivory or pale grayish color, ideal for gripping large insects. It displays extreme and unmistakable chromatic sexual dimorphism. The adult male is entirely covered in a uniform, brilliant rose-red or crimson plumage, slightly darker on the wings and tail, lacking any crests or black masks. The adult female exhibits a completely contrasting plumage, predominantly mustard-yellow or olive-green on the back and bright yellow or ochre on the underparts. Immature males show a striking, patchy transitional plumage with red and yellow spots. The eyes are dark brown and the legs are grayish.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Passeriformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Cardinalidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Piranga
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.Linnaeus, 1758
Record Completeness
93%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
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Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
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Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Insectivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
During the non-breeding season (autumn to northern spring), it inhabits a wide variety of Neotropical habitats including secondary forests, humid forest edges, dry forests, shaded coffee and cacao plantations, suburban gardens with scattered trees, and gallery forests, from sea level up to approximately 2,300 meters in altitude. In its North American breeding grounds, it prefers open deciduous forests, pine-oak woodlands, and riparian woodlands. It is a highly adaptable species that prefers the mid-to-upper strata of the forest canopy.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is a diurnal and solitary bird outside the breeding season. In its wintering territories in the Neotropics, it maintains a markedly territorial and independent existence, actively defending specific trees rich in fruits or insects from other conspecifics. It moves in a leisurely and deliberate manner through thick foliage, scanning the surroundings from clear branches before launching into acrobatic aerial pursuits or briefly descending to pluck ripe berries.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
It is a strictly solitary bird outside the breeding season and does not form conspecific flocks. However, during its winter stay in the Neotropics, it frequently associates peripherally with mixed-species canopy flocks led by local tanagers and wood-warblers, taking advantage of the collective alarm against terrestrial or aerial predators, though it maintains a prudent distance from other individuals.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Highly specialized insectivore and frugivore. Its diet primarily consists of bees, wasps, hornets, beetles, flying ants, cicadas, and dragonflies captured through hovering or direct pursuits. It extensively supplements its diet in the Neotropics by consuming wild berries and fruits from trees of the Ficus, Cecropia, and Miconia genera.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
It functions primarily as a highly efficient secondary consumer in the forest canopy. It is a key predator of large flying insects, effectively controlling populations of wasps, bees, beetles, and caterpillars. By consuming a large volume of fleshy fruits and berries, it also acts as a primary consumer and seed dispersal agent for epiphytic plants and tropical shrubs. It falls prey to medium-sized raptors (such as hawks of the genus Accipiter), and its eggs are preyed upon by tree squirrels and toucans.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Breeding occurs strictly in North America during the northern summer. The nest is built almost entirely by the female and consists of a shallow, thin, and fragile-looking open cup made of dry grass stems, fine twigs, and tree bark, located between 3 and 10 meters high on an outer horizontal branch of a deciduous tree. She generally lays 3 to 4 eggs (rarely 5) of a pale greenish-blue color with abundant brown and gray spots concentrated at the wide end. Incubation lasts 11 to 12 days and is performed exclusively by the female, while the male occasionally feeds her at the nest. Both parents intensely feed the nestlings with crushed insects until they fledge at 13-15 days old.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
17.0 - 19.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
24 g - 32 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.3 - 5
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
1 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
11 - 12
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males4 - 7 Years
Females4 - 7 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
Adult male with breeding plumage of a uniform, intense, and dazzling summer rose-red color across the entire body, including the head, back, and underparts. The wing and tail feathers show subtle grayish or dark brown edges but maintain the dominant reddish tone. It completely lacks black markings or facial ornaments.
Females Multi-lang
Plumage completely different from that of the male, dominated by dull olive-green tones on the crown and back, shifting into a bright mustard-yellow or buff on the breast and abdomen. The wings are grayish-brown with greenish edges, providing perfect camouflage within the sunlit tree foliage.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Aerial Hymenopterophage Specialization: It has developed a precise aerial hunting technique combined with perch manipulation; after capturing a wasp or bee in flight, it returns to a branch, beats it vigorously against the wood to kill it, and scrapes the insect's abdomen to remove the stinger and venom gland before swallowing.
Long-Distance Migration Strategy: Its physiology has the capability to accumulate large subcutaneous fat deposits prior to migratory journeys, allowing it to perform continuous, long-distance direct flights across the Gulf of Mexico without needing to stop for rest.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Habitat Loss due to Neotropical Deforestation: The massive conversion of shaded forests and traditional shade-grown coffee plantations into intensive full-sun monocultures drastically reduces food resources in its wintering grounds.
Collisions with Anthropic Structures: During its low-altitude nocturnal migratory flights, thousands of individuals die annually due to fatal collisions with illuminated glass windows and skyscrapers in dense urban areas.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Wasp Nest Destroyer: They have the audacity to attack entire active wasp nests; they perch right next to the nest and methodically extract the protein-rich larvae from the exposed cells, ignoring the defense attempts of adult wasps.
Kaleidoscopic Transitional Plumage: During spring, first-year young males molt their feathers, acquiring a spectacular and chaotic patchy appearance, combining blocks of bright yellow color with fire-red spots.