Rufous-cheeked Tanager
Tangara rufigenis
Rufous-cheeked Tanager (Tangara rufigenis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager (Tangara rufigenis) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 16.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Tangara
- Species rufigenis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.5 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager (Tangara rufigenis) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6,837 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-cheeked Tanager?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is a small bird that weighs around 16.5 g.
Where does the Rufous-cheeked Tanager live?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-cheeked Tanager belong to?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager (Tangara rufigenis) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous-cheeked Tanager eat?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Rufous-cheeked Tanager migrate?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-cheeked Tanager endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-cheeked Tanager make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-cheeked Tanager — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-cheeked Tanager's range?
The Rufous-cheeked Tanager has a mapped global range of about 6,837 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.