Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
- Least concern
- Card rarity: Common
- Birds
The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized American songbird in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It was placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae) until 2009, but was moved to Cardinalidae following several genetic studies indicating the Piranga tanagers are more closely related to cardinals and their allies. Breeding males have bright red plumage with black wings and tails, while females are yellow-olive. Outside the breeding season, males develop plumage similar to that of females, although their wings and tails remain darker.
Classification
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cardinalidae
- Genus
- Piranga