The taxonomy is a little complicated. The white-rumped tanager was formally described in 1823 by German naturalist Hinrich Lichtenstein under the binomial name Tanagra ruficollis.
The taxonomic classification is complex.  The white-rumped tanager was first scientifically described in 1823 by German naturalist Hinrich Lichtenstein, who gave it the scientific name *Tanagra ruficollis*.