Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) - HBW 16, p. 311

French: Piranga vermillon German: Sommertangare Spanish: Piranga Roja

Taxonomy: Fringilla rubra Linnaeus, 1758, South Carolina, USA.
Molecular-genetic evidence indicates that this genus forms a monophyletic group with Habia and Chlorothraupis, and that all three are more closely related to cardinals (Cardinalidae) than to true tanagers. Proposed race ochracea (described from Trout Creek, near Cane Springs, in W Arizona) is considered synonymous with cooperi. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

cooperi Ridgway, 1869 - breeds SW USA (from SE California, S Nevada and C Arizona E to W Texas) and N Mexico (S to to NE Baja California, Sonora, N Durango, SW Coahuila and C Nuevo León); winters C & S Mexico (from S Sinaloa S to Michoacán, Morelos and Guerrero).
rubra (Linnaeus, 1758) - breeds E USA (from SE Nebraska, S Iowa, Ohio and Delaware S to C Texas, Gulf Coast and Florida); winters from S Mexico (Michoacán, Pueblo, Veracruz and Yucatán) S to N South America (S occasionally to N Bolivia, W Brazil and SE Venezuela, occasionally the Guianas.