Saffron-crowned tanager | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Thraupidae |
Genus: | Tangara |
Species: | T. xanthocephala |
Binomial name | |
Tangara xanthocephala (Tschudi, 1844) | |
Distribution of the saffron-crowned tanager | |
Synonyms | |
The saffron-crowned tanager (Tangara xanthocephala) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. Found in the northern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, it inhabits cloud forest, forest edges, and secondary forest, preferring areas with mossy trees. It is an average-sized species of tanager with a blue-green body and yellow head with a black forecrown, lores, orbital area, and chin.
It forages in pairs or small groups of 3–7 individuals that are part of mixed-species flocks. It is the most frugivorous species in the genus Tangara , although it also feeds on insects. It forms breeding pairs and is thought to be socially monogamous. The only known nest contained a clutch of two eggs. It is listed as being a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the IUCN Red List, but may be threatened by habitat destruction.
The saffron-crowned tanager was first described as Callospiza xanthocephala by Johann Tschudi in 1844 based on a specimen from Peru. [2] The generic name Tangara is from the Tupí word tangara, meaning "dancer". The specific name xanthocephala is from the Ancient Greek ξανθος (xanthos), meaning yellow, and κεφαλος (kephalos), meaning -headed. [3] Saffron-crowned tanager is the official common name designated by the International Ornithologists' Union. [4] Other names for the species include saffron crowned tanager. [5]
It is one of 27 species in the genus Tangara . Within the genus, it was placed in a species group with the blue-whiskered tanager, green-and-gold tanager, emerald tanager, golden tanager, silver-throated tanager, golden-eared tanager, and flame-faced tanager by Isler and Isler in 1987. This placement is supported by a 2004 study of mitochondrial DNA by Kevin Burns and Kazuya Naoki. Within the species group, the saffron-crowned tanager is sister to a clade formed by blue-whiskered tanager, green-and-gold tanager, emerald tanager, golden tanager, silver-throated tanager, and flame-faced tanager. [6] The following cladogram shows phylogenetic relationships within the species group based on the above study: [2]
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There are three recognized subspecies of the saffron-crowned tanager, which differ in the color of their crown. [4]
The saffron-crowned tanager is an average-sized species of tanager, with a length of 12.5–13.5 cm (4.9–5.3 in) and a mass of 15–23.6 g (0.53–0.83 oz). Both sexes look similar. Adults have a blue-green body with blackish streaking on the back. The forecrown, lores, orbital area (region around the eyes), and chin are black, while the rest of the head is yellow, with an orange tinge to the crown. The wings and tail feathers are black, edged blue-green. The center of the belly and the undertail coverts are buff. The iris is dark brown, the bill is black, and the feet are gray. Juveniles are similar to adults but duller and more greenish. They also have yellowish-green instead of yellow on the head and buff-edged underparts. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager may be confused with the golden-eared and flame-faced tanagers. It can be distinguished by the former's black mid-crown and nape, and by the latter's solid black back and opalescent patch on wing coverts. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager's calls include a thin, high-pitched tsit and a high-pitched descending tsew. Its songs may be a series of squeaky, high-pitched notes. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager is found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, where it inhabits cloud forests, forest edges, and secondary forest. It is also found in shaded plantations and large trees next to clearings and pastures. The species shows a preference for areas with mossy trees and inhabits elevations between 1,000–2,700 m (3,300–8,900 ft). [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager is generally found in pairs or small groups of 3–10 individuals, mainly in mixed-species flocks with other species of tanagers and other canopy birds. In Venezuela, it is most often seen with the beryl-spangled tanager, golden tanager, and black-capped tanager. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager is the most frugivorous species in its genus. Fruits consumed include Cecropia , Morus, Miconia , and others in the family Melostomataceae. It also feeds on insects. The species is very active while foraging, with individuals constantly moving around or hopping while foraging. Foraging occurs primarily in the canopy, although fruit is foraged at all heights. Fruit is mainly gleaned while upright, but insects are foraged mainly from mossy branches by inspecting both sides of the branch, and then reaching into clumps of moss or sticking its whole head into moss. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager forms breeding pairs and is thought to be socially monogamous. Individuals in breeding plumage have been reported from March–July. Juveniles have been reported in April in Venezuela, in March, April, and September in Colombia, in February, April, and August in Peru, and in November and December in Bolivia. The only known nest was found in November and was placed at a height of 12 m (39 ft) in moss on the underside of the lowest branch of a tree, containing a clutch of two eggs. [6]
The saffron-crowned tanager is listed as being a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the IUCN Red List due to its large range and lack of significant population decline. [1] However, the species is threatened by habitat destruction. [6]
The turquoise tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is a resident bird from Trinidad, much of Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia. It is restricted to areas with humid forest, with its primary distribution being the Amazon. It was formerly treated as being conspecific with the white-bellied tanager which is found in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil.
The grass-green tanager is a small South America bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Chlorornis.
The paradise tanager 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 behind is yellow and red or all red. The beak is black and the legs are grey. It is native to the Amazon rainforest.
The silver-throated tanager is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. It inhabits mossy forests, montane evergreen forests, tropical lowland evergreen forests and forest edges, along with tall secondary forests and disturbed habitat with remnant trees and forest. It is 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighs 22 grams (0.78 oz) on average, and shows slight sexual dimorphism, with duller female plumage. Adult males are mainly bright yellow, with a silvery-white throat bordered above with a black stripe on the cheeks, black streaking on the back, and green edges to the wings and tail. Juveniles are duller and greener.
The fawn-breasted tanager is a species of tanager with a blue head and yellow breast. It occurs in the Andes of northwestern Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, as well as in the highlands of northeastern Argentina, south Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The blue-winged mountain tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers. It is found in highland forest and woodland in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, as well as a disjunct population in the Venezuelan Coastal Range. It is a common species and its populations appear to be stable. It is generally bright yellow and black with blue to the wings and tail; some populations have a moss-green back. In Bolivia and southernmost Peru, the rump is blue and the voice is very different; this population is sometimes recognized as a separate species, the Bolivian mountain tanager.
The plushcap is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae and it is the only member of the genus Catamblyrhynchus.
The scarlet-and-white tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia and northern Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. The male is highly distinctive and has bright scarlet upperparts, darker red wings and undertail coverts, and white underparts with a scarlet median stripe running down the throat and belly. Females are patterned like the males, but are olive-brown instead of scarlet.
The flame-crested tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Ten subspecies are currently recognized.
The golden tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is widespread and often common in highland forests of the Andes and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America.
The burnished-buff tanager, also known as the rufous-crowned tanager, is a common South American species of bird in the family Thraupidae.
The golden-eared tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in the eastern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The blue-browed tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The emerald tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. Described by the English ornithologists PL Sclater and Osbert Salvin in 1869, it is a medium-sized species that has a length of 10.6–13 cm (4.2–5.1 in) and a mass of 18–20.5 g (0.63–0.72 oz). It can be identified by its bright green plumage, with black streaking on the back and wings, and a black auricular patch and beak. It also has yellow on the crown and rump. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with the females being duller and having yellow-green in place of yellow on the head.
The black-capped tanager is one of the many species of Neotropical bird in the family Thraupidae. It lives in mountains of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela year-round. This bird can often be found in open landscapes, alone or in pairs, hiding under branches of trees and bushes. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
The flame-faced tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is endemic to South America and is found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a distinctive-looking species with black and opalescent green upperparts, opalescent green and buff underparts, and a deep red and yellow face. The subspecies lunigera lacks the deep red on the face, which is replaced with orangish-red.
The golden-naped tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in South America from Colombia to Bolivia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
The blue-and-black tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in the Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, where it inhabits montane evergreen forest, dwarf forest, and secondary forest at elevations of 1,500–3,500 m (4,900–11,500 ft). It inhabits the highest altitude of any Tangara species, and is the only species from the genus that is found near the tree line. Adults are 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weigh 18 g (0.63 oz) on average, and are mostly blue with black masks, wings, and tails. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly duller than males.
The versicolored barbet is a very colorful species of bird in the family Capitonidae, the New World barbets. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
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