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Tangara (genus)
Encyclopedia
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of birds of the tanager
Tanager
The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution.There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux...
family. It includes about 50 species, but as currently defined the genus is polyphyletic. All are from the Neotropic
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
s, and while most are fairly widespread, some have small distributions and are threatened
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
. They are fairly small, ranging in size from 11.5–15 cm (4.5–5.9 in). This genus includes some of the most spectacularly colored birds of the world.
These tanagers are mainly found high in forest canopies, but some occupy more open habitat. They are found at all elevations below tree line but are most diverse in the Andean subtropical and foothill forests of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
The female builds a usually well concealed cup nest and lays two brown- or lilac-speckled white eggs. These hatch in 13–14 days and the chicks fledge in a further 15–16 days. The male and female feed the nestlings on insects and fruit, and may be assisted by helpers.
Tangara tanagers pick insects from leaves, or sometimes in flight, but fruit is a major dietary item, accounting for 53-86% of food items in those species which have been studied.
Species in taxonomic order
- Plain-colored Tanager, Tangara inornata
- Turquoise TanagerTurquoise TanagerThe Turquoise Tanager, Tangara mexicana, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident bird from Trinidad, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and much of Brazil...
, Tangara mexicana- White-bellied Tanager, Tangara mexicana brasiliensis
- Azure-rumped TanagerAzure-rumped TanagerThe Azure-rumped Tanager, Tangara cabanisi is a Middle American bird of the family Thraupidae. It is a local resident in humid broadleaf forests and adjacent plantations of the Pacific slope of western Guatemala and southern Chiapas, Mexico...
, Tangara cabanisi - Gray-and-gold Tanager, Tangara palmeri
- Paradise TanagerParadise TanagerThe Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis, is a brilliantly multicolored, medium-sized songbird whose length varies between 13.5 and 15 cm. It has a light green head, sky blue underparts and black upper body plumage. Depending on subspecies, the rump is yellow and red or all red...
, Tangara chilensis - Seven-colored Tanager, Tangara fastuosa
- Green-headed TanagerGreen-headed TanagerThe Green-headed Tanager, Tangara seledon, is a bird found in Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay and far north-eastern Argentina ....
, Tangara seledon - Red-necked TanagerRed-necked TanagerThe Red-necked Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Tangara cyanocephala - Brassy-breasted TanagerBrassy-breasted TanagerThe Brassy-breasted Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:...
, Tangara desmaresti - Gilt-edged TanagerGilt-edged TanagerThe Gilt-edged Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Tangara cyanoventris - Blue-whiskered TanagerBlue-whiskered TanagerThe Blue-whiskered Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Tangara johannae - Green-and-gold TanagerGreen-and-gold TanagerThe Green-and-gold Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, the tanagers. It is one of 49 species in the genus Tangara.-Overview:...
, Tangara schrankii - Emerald TanagerEmerald TanagerThe Emerald Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama....
, Tangara florida - Golden TanagerGolden TanagerThe Golden Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is widespread and often common in highland forests of the Andes and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America....
, Tangara arthus - Silver-throated TanagerSilver-throated TanagerThe Silver-throated Tanager, Tangara icterocephala, is a small passerine bird. This brightly coloured tanager is a resident from Costa Rica, through Panama and western Colombia, to western Ecuador.-Habitat:...
, Tangara icterocephala - Golden-eared TanagerGolden-eared TanagerThe Golden-eared Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family .It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Tangara chrysotis - Saffron-crowned TanagerSaffron-crowned TanagerThe Saffron-crowned Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Tangara xanthocephala - Flame-faced TanagerFlame-faced TanagerThe Flame-faced Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:...
, Tangara parzudakii - Yellow-bellied TanagerYellow-bellied TanagerThe Yellow-bellied Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Tangara xanthogastra - Spotted TanagerSpotted TanagerThe Spotted Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Tangara punctata - Speckled TanagerSpeckled TanagerThe Speckled Tanager, Tangara guttata, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder in Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia and the extreme north of Brazil....
, Tangara guttata - Dotted TanagerDotted TanagerThe Dotted Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Tangara varia - Rufous-throated TanagerRufous-throated TanagerThe Rufous-throated Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and heavily degraded former forest.-References:...
, Tangara rufigula - Bay-headed TanagerBay-headed TanagerThe Bay-headed Tanager, Tangara gyrola, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder in Costa Rica, Panama, South America south to Ecuador, Bolivia and southern Brazil, and on Trinidad....
, Tangara gyrola - Rufous-winged TanagerRufous-winged TanagerThe Rufous-winged Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama....
, Tangara lavinia - Burnished-buff TanagerBurnished-buff TanagerThe Burnished-buff Tanager , also known as the Rufous-crowned Tanager, is a common South American species of bird in the Thraupidae family....
, Tangara cayana - Black-backed TanagerBlack-backed TanagerThe Black-backed Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to forest and shrub in to south-eastern Brazil. When first described it was mistakenly believed that it originates from Peru, leading to the misleading scientific name peruviana...
, Tangara peruviana - Lesser Antillean TanagerLesser Antillean TanagerThe Lesser Antillean Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Grenada and Saint Vincent.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Tangara cucullata - Chestnut-backed TanagerChestnut-backed TanagerThe Chestnut-backed Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil, north-eastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and Uruguay. It is closely related to the rarer Black-backed Tanager, and females of the two species are...
, Tangara preciosa - Scrub TanagerScrub TanagerThe Scrub Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Tangara vitriolina - Green-capped TanagerGreen-capped TanagerThe Green-capped Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to forest edge and gardens at altitudes of 1450–2200 m. in Puno, Peru, and La Paz, Bolivia. It is fairly common and possibly spreading, but its tiny range has led to it being evaluated as vulnerable by...
, Tangara meyerdeschauenseei - Rufous-cheeked TanagerRufous-cheeked TanagerThe Rufous-cheeked Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, the tanagers.It is endemic to Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Tangara rufigenis - Golden-naped TanagerGolden-naped TanagerThe Golden-naped Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Tangara ruficervix - Metallic-green TanagerMetallic-green TanagerThe Metallic-green Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.-References:...
, Tangara labradorides - Blue-browed TanagerBlue-browed TanagerThe Blue-browed Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Tangara cyanotis - Blue-necked TanagerBlue-necked TanagerThe Blue-necked Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Tangara cyanicollis - Golden-hooded TanagerGolden-hooded TanagerThe Golden-hooded Tanager, Tangara larvata, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador....
, Tangara larvata - Masked TanagerMasked TanagerThe Masked Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela....
, Tangara nigrocincta - Spangle-cheeked TanagerSpangle-cheeked TanagerThe Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Tangara dowii, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is an endemic resident breeder in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama....
, Tangara dowii - Green-naped TanagerGreen-naped TanagerThe Green-naped Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia and Panama.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Tangara fucosa - Beryl-spangled TanagerBeryl-spangled TanagerThe Beryl-spangled Tanager, Tangara nigroviridis, is a colourful tanager of the Andean cloud forests.Its range is from Venezuela to Bolivia. Its nest is a mossy cup in a tree fork; in Ecuador west slope, eggs in early March.-References:...
, Tangara nigroviridis - Blue-and-black TanagerBlue-and-black TanagerThe Blue-and-black Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Tangara vassorii - Black-capped TanagerBlack-capped TanagerThe Black-capped Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest....
, Tangara heinei - Sira TanagerSira TanagerThe Sira Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Tangara phillipsi - Silver-backed TanagerSilver-backed TanagerThe Silver-backed Tanager , also known as the Silvery Tanager, is a species of bird in the tanager family. It is found in humid highland forests in southern Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It is regularly seen at Machu Picchu....
, Tangara viridicollis - Straw-backed TanagerStraw-backed TanagerThe Straw-backed Tanager , also known as the Green-throated Tanager, is a species of bird in the tanager family. It is found in humid highland forests in the Andes of southernmost Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, but it is generally local and uncommon.-References:* Bird Life International 2004. . ...
, Tangara argyrofenges - Black-headed TanagerBlack-headed TanagerThe Black-headed Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela....
, Tangara cyanoptera - Opal-rumped TanagerOpal-rumped TanagerThe Opal-rumped Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest of South America. The population of the Atlantic Forest has a far paler chest than the other populations, and has often been considered a separate species as the Silvery-breasted...
, Tangara velia- Silvery-breasted TanagerSilvery-breasted TanagerThe Silvery-breasted Tanager is a subspecies of the Opal-rumped Tanager but sometimes considered a distinct species Tangara cyanomelas...
, Tangara velia cyanomelas
- Silvery-breasted Tanager
- Opal-crowned TanagerOpal-crowned TanagerThe Opal-crowned Tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, the tanagers. It is one of 49 species in the genus Tangara.-Overview:...
, Tangara callophrys