Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 33. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 33rd Lecture (ca. 1799): "A bird much like [Scarlet Tanager, P. olivacea] is found in South America, but the red is of a crimson hue, and the feathers on legs black." (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Alexander Wilson, 1810, American Ornithology vol. 2, p. 44 (Philadelphia) wrote: "There is in the Brazils a bird of the same genus with [the Scarlet Tanager, P. olivacea] and very much resembling, so much so as to have been frequently confounded with it by European writers. It is the Tanagra Brazilia of Turton; and tho so like, is yet a very distinct species from the present, as I have myself had the opportunity of ascertaining, by examining two very perfect specimens from Brazil, now in the possession of Mr. Peale, and comparing them with this. The principle differences are these. The plumage of the Brazilian is almost black at the bottom, very deep scarlet at the surface, and of an orange tint between; ours is ash colored at bottom, white in the middle, and bright scarlet at top. The tail of ours is forked, that of the other cuneiform or rounded. The bill of our species is more inflated, and of a greenish yellow color—the other's is black above, and whitish below towards the base. The whole plumage of the southern species is of a courser, stiffer quality, particularly on the head. The wings and tail, in both, are black."
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Brazilian Tanager
Current Scientific Name
Thraupidae | Ramphocelus bresilia
