Fauna
Bird

Red-capped Cardinal

Paroaria gularis

Also known as Gularis Cardinal, Red-headed Cardinal

Red-capped Cardinals are striking, social tanagers easily recognized by their brilliant crimson heads, black throats, and clean white underparts. They are almost always found near water, actively foraging along riverbanks, lake edges, and mangrove swamps in pairs or small family groups. These birds are highly vocal, frequently uttering sweet, whistling songs from low branches overhanging the water.

VibrantWetland-dwellingSocial
Red-capped Cardinal reference
"Red-capped Cardinal - Manu NP_8889" by fveronesi1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyInsects, Seeds, Berries
Predators
  • Snakes
  • Birds of prey
  • Arboreal mammals
ThreatsHabitat destruction, water pollution, and the illegal pet trade
HabitatsMangroves, riverbanks, lake edges, flooded forests, and swamps
Life span5 to 8 years
Classification
  1. FamilyThraupidae
  2. SpeciesParoaria gularis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Look near water: Scan low branches and floating vegetation along slow-moving rivers and oxbow lakes.
  • Listen for whistles: Follow their sweet, repetitive whistling calls to locate active pairs in dense foliage.
Related species
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