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Black and yellow tanager

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Genus
  
Chrysothlypis

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Species

Family
  
Thraupidae

Scientific name
  
Chrysothlypis chrysomelas

Higher classification
  
Chrysothlypis

Order
  
Passerine

Black-and-yellow tanager amazonclikpiccomdaveroachimagesBlackandyell

Similar
  
Blue‑and‑gold tanager, Sulphur‑rumped tanager, Pirre bush tanager, Slaty‑backed hemispingus, Tawny‑crested tanager

The black-and-yellow tanager (Chrysothlypis chrysomelas) is a fairly small passerine bird. This tanager is an endemic resident in the hills of Costa Rica and Panama. In Panama it has been recorded as far east as the border-region with Colombia, but it has not yet been recorded in the latter country, though it almost certainly occurs.

Black-and-yellow tanager Overview Blackandyellow Tanager Chrysothlypis chrysomelas

In Costa Rica, the black-and-yellow tanager is found in the foothills and slopes on the Caribbean side of the central mountain ranges, typically from 600 to 1,200 metres (2,000 to 3,900 ft) altitude, and occasionally down to 400 metres (1,300 ft). In Panama, it is found on both the Caribbean and Pacific slope from 450 to 1,200 metres (1,480 to 3,940 ft). The preferred habitat is the canopy of wet forest and tall second growth, but it will feed lower at woodland edges and clearing. The neat cup nest is built on a tree branch. The eggs are undescribed.

Black-and-yellow tanager Blackandyellow Tanager Chrysothlypis chrysomelas Flickr

The adult black-and-yellow tanager is about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long and weighs 12.5 grams (0.44 oz). Most authorities recognize two subspecies: The nominate in Costa Rica and western Panama and C. c. ocularis in eastern Panama, but some recognize the population in Costa Rican and extreme western Panama as a third subspecies, C. c. titanota (then limiting the nominate to the remaining part of western Panama). The adult male has a bright yellow head, rump and underparts, and a black back, wings and tail. The wing linings are white. The male of C. c. ocularis differs in having a black spot on the lores. The female has olive upperparts and yellow underparts, but in Costa Rica and extreme western Panama (the sometimes recognized C. c. titanota) the throat and lower belly is whitish. She could be mistaken for a warbler or a female yellow-backed tanager. Immatures resemble the adult female.

Black-and-yellow tanagers occur in small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. This species feeds on small fruit, usually swallowed whole, insects and spiders.

The black-and-yellow tanager's call is a scratchy single or repeated tsew, higher and faster than that of the silver-throated tanager.

Black-and-yellow tanager Tangara Negro y Dorado Blackandyellow Tanager Chrys Flickr

Some taxonomic lists modified the original name based on gender and use the specific name of chrysomelaena and this emendation is not considered correct.

Black-and-yellow tanager Blackandyellow tanager Wikipedia

References

Black-and-yellow tanager Wikipedia