Hepatic Tanager Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesHepatic Tanager
Adult male (Northern)
Large and chunky with a thick silver bill. Males are red overall, with a grayish red back and a gray cheek patch.
© Nate Gowan / Macaulay LibraryArizona, February 25, 2018Female/immature male (Northern)
Females and immature males are yellowish overall with a dark eyeline and a grayish cheek.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryJinotega, February 26, 2016Adult male
Sings slurred notes that rise and fall with short pauses interspersed. Often sings from the tops of pine trees.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Eats insects and fruits, often visiting fruit feeding stations.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 09, 2006Not all videos have sound
Adult male (Northern)
Males are bright red with a gray cheek patch and a grayish back washed in red. Found in open pine and pine-oak forests.
© Tony Battiste / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 15, 2016Female/immature male
Females/immature males are yellowish overall, but note gray cast to back and cheek. This video has no audio.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 10, 2006Not all videos have sound
Female/immature male (Northern)
Individuals in Arizona often more orangish yellow on the throat and crown with a grayish cheek patch and back.
© Tony Battiste / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 06, 2016Female/immature male (Northern)
Hefty tanager with a thick, dark bill. Females and immature males are yellowish overall with a characteristic gray cheek.
© Jason Vassallo / Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 30, 2016Adult male
Moves slowly and deliberately through foliage.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 16, 2006Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesSummer Tanager
Adult male
Summer Tanagers are entirely bright red and lack the grayish cheeks seen on adult male Hepatic Tanagers.
© Alex Burdo / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 16, 2016Similar SpeciesSummer Tanager
Female
Female Summer Tanagers are brighter yellow than female Hepatic Tanagers, which have more of a grayish cast on the back and grayish cheeks. They also have a pinkish bill whereas Hepatics have a dark bill.
© Heather Pickard / Macaulay LibraryHeredia, February 16, 2008Similar SpeciesWestern Tanager
Female
Female Western Tanagers have darker backs and wings than female/immature Hepatic tanagers. They also have 2 wingbars whereas Hepatics lack wingbars.
© Arlene Ripley / Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 16, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Cardinal
Male
Northern Cardinals have a crested head and a thick conical bill unlike Hepatic Tanagers. Males have a black face mask that Hepatics don't have.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, May 02, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Cardinal
Female
Northern Cardinals have a crested head and a thick conical bill unlike Hepatic Tanagers. Females are brown overall with red highlights in the crest, wings, and tail whereas female Hepatic Tanagers are yellowish overall.
© Michel Laquerre / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, February 17, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Cardinals and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Cardinalidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.