Female White-lined Tanager

Sightings
Female White-lined Tanager was seen regularly at the bird feeders in front off the verandah at the Asa Wright Centre in Trinidad. On this occasion, it was photographed in heavy rain. It was one of several tanager species which visited the bird feeders.

Species
White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus is a medium-sized passerine bird. The species is sexually dimorphic the female being a chestnut-brown colour and the male is all black. It is only when the male raises its wings and flies that the white patch under the wings is visible. It occurs in semi-open areas including gardens. It is a monotypic species.

Status and distribution
It is a species of least concern in a range of over 15 million square kilometres. It is a resident breeder from Costa Rica south to northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago. It is widespread and very common on Trinidad and less so on Tobago.

References
Asa Wright Centre; BirdLife; Wikipedia; World Bird Names; Kenefick, M., Restall, R., and Hayes, F. (2015) Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 220.

Photograph
1/250th of a second, f5.6 and ISO 1250