Blood of the Bull

Bird of the Day Series, Social Media Content

This is the Crimson-Backed Tanager which, in Panama, is called ‘Sangre de Toro’, or Blood of the Bull. Although that only applies to the males; while the males are a velvety scarlet with a silver beak, the females are a dull brown with your standard black beak. 

It is a 7” beauty found in Columbia, Panama and Venezuela. It was first identified in 1837, by a French naturalist who introduced the species to French Polynesia, where it has thrived. But ornithologists know that the species is at least 800,000 years old.  

It lives in forests, preferring rotten trees and degraded woodlands. But it flits into the cities too—it appears in people’s gardens and is regularly spotted at the Panama City Airport.  

It lays two blue eggs each year, stays in family groups and doesn’t cause any trouble. Nor is it in trouble. No one has studied it because there’s no need to. It’s not vulnerable, not endangered and is listed as being of Least Concern. A happy bird.