The
tanagers (singular ) comprise the bird
family Thraupidae, in the order
Passeriformes. The family has an
American distribution. The Thraupidae are the second-largest family of birds and represent about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the
Neotropical birds. Traditionally, about 240 species of tanagers were described, but the
taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux. As more of these birds are studied using modern molecular techniques, some genera are expected to be relocated elsewhere. Already, species in the genera
Euphonia and
Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of
Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (
Euphoniinae). Likewise, the genera
Piranga (which includes the
scarlet tanager,
summer tanager, and
western tanager),
Chlorothraupis, and
Habia appear to be members of the
cardinal family, and have been reassigned to that family by the
American Ornithologists' Union.