An American family, the Tanagers are mostly birds of very brilliant
plumage. There are 300 species, a few being tropical birds. They are
found in British and French Guiana, living in the latter country in open
spots of dwellings and feeding on bananas and other fruits. They are
also said to do much harm in the rice fields.
In "The Auk," of July, 1893, Mr. George K. Cherrie, of the Field Museum,
says of the Red-Rumped Tanager:
"During my stay at Boruca and Palmar, (the last of February) the
breeding season was at its height, and I observed many of the Costa Rica
Red-Rumps nesting. In almost every instance where possible I collected
both parents of the nests, and in the majority of cases found the males
wearing the same dress as the females. In a few instances the male was
in mottled plumage, evidently just assuming the adult phase, and in a
lesser number of examples the male was in fully adult plumage--velvety
black and crimson red. From the above it is clear that the males begin
to breed before they attain fully adult plumage, and that they retain
the dress of the female until, at least, the beginning of the second
year.
"While on this trip I had many proofs that, in spite of its rich
plumage, and being a bird of the tropics, it is well worthy to hold a
place of honor among the song birds. And if the bird chooses an early
hour and a secluded spot for expressing its happiness, the melody is
none the less delightful. At the little village of Buenos Aires, on the
Rio Grande of Terraba, I heard the song more frequently than at any
other point. Close by the ranch house at which we were staying, there
is a small stream bordered by low woods and underbrush, that formed a
favorite resort for the birds. Just below the ranch is a convenient spot
where we took our morning bath. I was always there just as the day was
breaking. On the opposite bank was a small open space in the brush
occupied by the limbs of a dead tree. On one of these branches, and
always the same one, was the spot chosen by a Red-rump to pour forth his
morning song. Some mornings I found him busy with his music when I
arrived, and again he would be a few minutes behind me. Sometimes he
would come from one direction, sometimes from another, but he always
alighted at the same spot and then lost no time in commencing his song.
While singing, the body was swayed to and fro, much after the manner of
a canary while singing. The song would last for perhaps half an hour,
and then away the singer would go. I have not enough musical ability to
describe the song, but will say that often I remained standing quietly
for a long time, only that I might listen to the music."