Tangara (genus)


Tangara is a large genus of birds of the tanager family. It includes about 50 species, but as currently defined the genus is polyphyletic. All are from the Neotropics, and while most are fairly widespread, some have small distributions and are threatened. They are fairly small, ranging in size from. This genus includes some of the most spectacularly colored birds of the world.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Tangara was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the paradise tanager as the type species. The name means "dancer" in the extinct Tupi language.

Extant species

Forty-seven extant species are recognized:
ImageCommon NameScientific nameDistribution
Plain-colored tanagerTangara inornataColombia, Costa Rica, and Panama
Turquoise tanagerTangara mexicanaTrinidad, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and much of Brazil
Paradise tanagerTangara chilensiswestern and northern Amazon Basin in South America, it occurs in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and the Guianas
Seven-colored tanagerTangara fastuosanorth-eastern Brazil
Green-headed tanagerTangara seledonsouth-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay, and far north-eastern Argentina
Red-necked tanagerTangara cyanocephalaArgentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
Brassy-breasted tanagerTangara desmarestiBrazil
Gilt-edged tanagerTangara cyanoventrisBrazil
Blue-whiskered tanagerTangara johannaeColombia and Ecuador.-
Green-and-gold tanagerTangara schrankiieastern Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, central Bolivia, and northwestern Brazil
Emerald tanagerTangara floridaColombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama
Golden tanagerTangara arthusAndes and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America
Silver-throated tanagerTangara icterocephalaCosta Rica, through Panama and western Colombia, to western Ecuador.
Saffron-crowned tanagerTangara xanthocephalanorthern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Golden-eared tanagerTangara chrysotiseastern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
Flame-faced tanagerTangara parzudakiieastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
Yellow-bellied tanagerTangara xanthogastraBolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, and Venezuela
Spotted tanagerTangara punctataBolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela
Speckled tanagerTangara guttataCosta Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname and the extreme north of Brazil
Dotted tanagerTangara variaBrazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela
Rufous-throated tanagerTangara rufigulaColombia and Ecuador.
Bay-headed tanagerTangara gyrolaEcuador, Bolivia and southern Brazil, and on Trinidad
Rufous-winged tanagerTangara laviniaColombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
Burnished-buff tanagerTangara cayananorthern Guianas, most of Venezuela and east-central Colombia; also near the Amazon River outlet in Brazil, as well as most of the east of that country, Paraguay and northeast Argentina
Lesser Antillean tanagerTangara cucullataGrenada and Saint Vincent
Black-backed tanagerTangara peruvianasouth-eastern Brazil
Chestnut-backed tanagerTangara preciosasouthern Brazil, north-eastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Scrub tanagerTangara vitriolinaColombia and Ecuador
Green-capped tanagerTangara meyerdeschauenseeiPuno, Peru, and La Paz, Bolivia
Rufous-cheeked tanagerTangara rufigenisVenezuela
Golden-naped tanagerTangara ruficervixBolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Metallic-green tanagerTangara labradoridesColombia, Ecuador, and Peru
Blue-browed tanagerTangara cyanotisBolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Blue-necked tanagerTangara cyanicollisBolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Golden-hooded tanagerTangara larvatasouthern Mexico south to western Ecuador
Masked tanagerTangara nigrocinctaBolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
Spangle-cheeked tanagerTangara dowiiCosta Rica and western Panama
Green-naped tanagerTangara fucosaColombia and Panama
Beryl-spangled tanagerTangara nigroviridisColombia through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia
Blue-and-black tanagerTangara vassoriiBolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
Black-capped tanagerTangara heineiColombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
Sira tanagerTangara phillipsiPeru
Silver-backed tanagerTangara viridicollissouthern Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
Straw-backed tanagerTangara argyrofengesEcuador, Peru and Bolivia
Black-headed tanagerTangara argenteaSouth America.
Opal-rumped tanagerTangara veliaAmazon and Atlantic Forest of South America
Opal-crowned tanagerTangara callophryssouthern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru and a region of northwestern Bolivia; for Brazil

Former species

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species as species within the genus Tangara:
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, Ecuador and Peru.

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

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.

Food and feeding

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.