Birds Guide

Tangara
Paradise Tanager
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Passeriformes   Family: Thraupidae   Genus: Tangara Brisson, 1760
species
see species list

Tangara is a large genus of birds of the tanager family. Many have restricted ranges.

These tanagers are mainly found high in forest canopies, but some occupy more open habitat.

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 Tanager, Tangara mexicana
  Azure-rumped Tanager, Tangara cabanisi
  Gray-and-gold Tanager, Tangara palmeri
  Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis
  Seven-colored Tanager, Tangara fastuosa
  Green-headed Tanager, Tangara seledon
  Red-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanocephala
  Brassy-breasted Tanager, Tangara desmaresti
  Gilt-edged Tanager, Tangara cyanoventris
  Blue-whiskered Tanager, Tangara johannae
  Green-and-gold Tanager, Tangara schrankii
  Emerald Tanager, Tangara florida
  Golden Tanager, Tangara arthus
  Silver-throated Tanager, Tangara icterocephala
  Golden-eared Tanager, Tangara chrysotis
  Saffron-crowned Tanager, Tangara xanthocephala
  Flame-faced Tanager, Tangara parzudakii
  Yellow-bellied Tanager, Tangara xanthogastra
  Spotted Tanager, Tangara punctata
  Speckled Tanager, Tangara guttata
  Dotted Tanager, Tangara varia
  Rufous-throated Tanager, Tangara rufigula
  Bay-headed Tanager, Tangara gyrola
  Rufous-winged Tanager, Tangara lavinia
  Burnished-buff Tanager, Tangara cayana
  Black-backed Tanager, Tangara peruviana
  Lesser Antillean Tanager, Tangara cucullata
  Chestnut-backed Tanager, Tangara preciosa
  Scrub Tanager, Tangara vitriolina
  Green-capped Tanager, Tangara meyerdeschauenseei
  Rufous-cheeked Tanager, Tangara rufigenis
  Golden-naped Tanager, Tangara ruficervix
  Metallic-green Tanager, Tangara labradorides
  Blue-browed Tanager, Tangara cyanotis
  Blue-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanicollis
  Golden-hooded Tanager, Tangara larvata
  Masked Tanager, Tangara nigrocincta
  Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Tangara dowii
  Green-naped Tanager, Tangara fucosa
  Beryl-spangled Tanager, Tangara nigroviridis
  Blue-and-black Tanager, Tangara vassorii
  Black-capped Tanager, Tangara heinei
  Sira Tanager, Tangara phillipsi
  Silver-backed Tanager, Tangara viridicollis
  Straw-backed Tanager, Tangara argyrofenges
  Black-headed Tanager, Tangara cyanoptera
  Opal-rumped Tanager, Tangara velia
  Opal-crowned Tanager, Tangara callophrys

References

• ffrench, Birds of Trinidad and Tobago ISBN 0-7136-6759-1
• Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Morton, Isler & Isler, Tanagers ISBN 0-7136-5116-4
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-0814-9600-4