The hepatic tanager (Piranga flava) is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family. The common name hepatic means "liver-coloured", namely, brownish-red. The specific name flāva is Latin for yellow or golden. The habits of the hepatic tanager are similar to those of the western tanager. There are three subspecies groups, which may be separate species: