Kingdom Animalia Genus Tangara Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Thraupidae Scientific name Tangara icterocephala Higher classification Tangara Order Passerine | |
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Similar Tanager, Bird, Bay‑headed tanager, Golden‑hooded tanager, Spangle‑cheeked tanager | ||
Choco birds silver throated tanager tangara icterocephala aves del choco
The 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.
Contents
- Choco birds silver throated tanager tangara icterocephala aves del choco
- Silver throated tanager
- Habitat
- Description
- Behavior
- References
Silver throated tanager
Habitat
In Costa Rica it is a common bird from 600 to 1,700 metres (2,000 to 5,600 ft) altitude in the lower and middle levels of wet mountain forests and adjacent semi-open areas like clearings with shade trees, second growth and woodland edges. In the heavy rains of the wet season, it will descend to sea level. In the South American part of its range it mainly occurs between 500 and 1,300 metres (1,600 and 4,300 ft), but can be found at altitudes of 150 to 2,100 metres (490 to 6,890 ft).
Description
The adult silver-throated tanager is 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighs 21 grams (0.74 oz). The male is mainly yellow, with black streaks down its back, and a whitish throat bordered above with a black malar stripe. The wings and tail are black with pale green edgings. The sexes are similar, but adult females have duller and greener-tinged yellow plumage, and sometimes dark mottling on the crown. Immatures are much duller and greener, with dusky wings, tail, back streaks and malar stripe, a grey throat and darker green wing edging.
Behavior
The compact cup nest is built 1–13 metres (3.3–42.7 ft) in a tree on a branch. The normal clutch is two brown-blotched off-white eggs. This species will raise two broods in a season.
Silver-throated tanagers occur in pairs, small groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. They eat small fruit, usually swallowed whole, insects and spiders.
The silver-throated tanager's call is a distinctive sharp buzzy zzeeep. It does not sing.
