From Opus

Rhodothraupis celaeno

Photo of female by Glen Tepke
Photographed: Pharr, Texas, USA

Photo of male by youngbirder92
Photographed: Frontera Audubon Center, Westlaco, Texas, USA

[edit] Identification

Mature males have black plumage with a dull red (Sibley) or pinkish red (Howell and Webb) "collar" on the nape, shoulders, and belly (much like the Crimson-collared Tanager); the belly is mottled with black. Mature females have a black head and breast like males but greenish upperparts and yellowish underparts. Young birds are similar to females but have less black. The beak is black, big and stubby, with the upper mandible jutting roughly perpendicular to the forehead. It is medium-size.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to northeastern Mexico, rare visitor to southern Texas.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Crimson-collared Grosbeak, is a monotypic species, which is the only member of its genus. It belongs in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalidae.

[edit] Habitat

The Crimson-collared Grosbeak inhabits humid or semi-arid forest and second growth, from low to high levels, sometimes skulking on the ground. It occurs singly, in pairs, or in mixed-species flocks.

[edit] Behaviour

This is a seed- and leaf-eating bird.

[edit] External Links