Tanagers
07 February 2025 (143 visits)Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. They constitute the second-largest family of birds, and are distributed across the Neotropical region, where they represent around 12% of all Neotropical bird species. They are restricted to the Western Hemisphere, mainly to the tropics, and around 60% of all tanagers live in South America. Of these, about 30% are found in the Andes. Most individual species of tanager are endemic to a small territory.
Tanager species are often brightly colored, with males typically exhibiting brighter plumage than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings, and across different species the shapes of their bills are associated with each species’ particular foraging habits.
In the rainforests around our Tambopata Ecolodge, silver-beaked tanagers (Ramphocelus carbo) are a common sight. In our own Private Conservation Area and in neighboring Tambopata National Reserve, where we operate our guided jungle trips for those who travel to Peru, these tanagers are often seen or heard in the understory of the forest, quite close to the ground.
The silver-beaked tanager is a medium-sized bird. Its range extends across South America, all the way from Colombia and Venezuela, down to Paraguay, central Brazil and southeastern Peru, where our jungle lodge is located. In the Caribbean, it is also found in Trinidad. Silver-beaked tanagers are typically around 18 centimeters long and weigh approximately 25 grams. Males are red and black, with a bright silver bill, which stands out brilliantly in contrast with their plumage. Females and juveniles are uniformly maroon, with a dull, gray bill.
Another tanager our guests should look out for during their rainforest stay is the paradise tanager (Tangara chilensis). This is a small and very brightly-colored tanager. It has a bright green head, and a red, blue and black body. Often found among mixed flocks, it is usually spotted relatively high up in the forest canopy, where it moves rapidly between perches when foraging.
Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary across different species. In Tambopata, they have been seen eating fruits, seeds, flower parts and insects, sometimes picking insects off branches, or perching until they see an insect fly past. Where different species inhabit the same area of forest, these subtle specializations help to alleviate competition for food sources.
