28 January 2010, El Valle, Cocle Province, Panama

This species ranges from Panama to northern South America. It prefers
forest edges and clearings. Five subspecies are recognized. This is R. d.
isthmicus which is limited to the Panamanian mainland. Two other races are
on offshore islands and two others in South America. They races differ
slightly in color and in the amount of black on the belly.

Unlike the Ant-Tanager I posted earlier, tanagers in the genus Ramphocelus
remain classified with the true tanagers (Thraupidae).

Females are similar but duller in color. I plan to post a photo of the
female later.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope 3 | 30X WA | hand-held
(no adapter)