The Story
I photographed this Flame-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus) at the Kairi Lodge Natural Reserve, near Manizales, Caldas, Colombia, in February 2020. Its species name means flame-bearing. It was described in 1833, and for much of the 20th century its yellow-rumped form was treated as a separate species, the Lemon-rumped Tanager, until a 2017 study found very little genetic difference. In Colombia the nominate form lives mainly in the Cauca River valley, between 800 and 2,000 meters. Males sing at dawn from the top of a bush. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600, +1 EV. Kairi is recognized as a biological corridor for birds between the Ecoparque Alcázares and the Reserva El Arenillo.
©2020 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Flame-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus) belongs to the family Thraupidae (Tanagers and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2023), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List