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.[1] 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 11.5–15 centimetres (4.5–5.9 in). This genus includes some of the most spectacularly colored birds of the world.

Tangara
Paradise tanager, Tangara chilensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Thraupidae
Genus:	Tangara Brisson, 1760
Species
About 50, see list
Synonyms
Tanagra Linnaeus, 1764

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus Tangara was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the paradise tanager (Tangara chilensis) as the type species.[2][3] The name means "dancer" in the extinct Tupi language.[4]

Extant species

Forty-seven extant species are recognized:[5]

Image	Common Name	Scientific name	Distribution
	Plain-colored tanager	Tangara inornata	Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama
	Turquoise tanager	Tangara mexicana	Trinidad, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and much of Brazil
	Paradise tanager	Tangara chilensis	western and northern Amazon Basin in South America, it occurs in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and the Guianas
	Seven-colored tanager	Tangara fastuosa	north-eastern Brazil
	Green-headed tanager	Tangara seledon	south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay, and far north-eastern Argentina
	Red-necked tanager	Tangara cyanocephala	Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
	Brassy-breasted tanager	Tangara desmaresti	Brazil
	Gilt-edged tanager	Tangara cyanoventris	Brazil
	Blue-whiskered tanager	Tangara johannae	Colombia and Ecuador.
	Green-and-gold tanager	Tangara schrankii	eastern Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, central Bolivia, and northwestern Brazil
	Emerald tanager	Tangara florida	Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama
	Golden tanager	Tangara arthus	Andes (from Bolivia and northwards) and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America
	Silver-throated tanager	Tangara icterocephala	Costa Rica, through Panama and western Colombia, to western Ecuador.
	Saffron-crowned tanager	Tangara xanthocephala	northern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
	Golden-eared tanager	Tangara chrysotis	eastern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
	Flame-faced tanager	Tangara parzudakii	eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
	Yellow-bellied tanager	Tangara xanthogastra	Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, and Venezuela
	Spotted tanager	Tangara punctata	Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela
	Speckled tanager	Tangara guttata	Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname and the extreme north of Brazil
	Dotted tanager	Tangara varia	Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, and Venezuela
	Rufous-throated tanager	Tangara rufigula	Colombia and Ecuador.
	Bay-headed tanager	Tangara gyrola	Ecuador, Bolivia and southern Brazil, and on Trinidad
	Rufous-winged tanager	Tangara lavinia	Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama
	Burnished-buff tanager	Tangara cayana	northern 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 tanager	Tangara cucullata	Grenada and Saint Vincent
	Black-backed tanager	Tangara peruviana	south-eastern Brazil
	Chestnut-backed tanager	Tangara preciosa	southern Brazil, north-eastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and Uruguay.
	Scrub tanager	Tangara vitriolina	Colombia and Ecuador
	Green-capped tanager	Tangara meyerdeschauenseei	Puno, Peru, and La Paz, Bolivia
	Rufous-cheeked tanager	Tangara rufigenis	Venezuela
	Golden-naped tanager	Tangara ruficervix	Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
	Metallic-green tanager	Tangara labradorides	Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
	Blue-browed tanager	Tangara cyanotis	Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
	Blue-necked tanager	Tangara cyanicollis	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
	Golden-hooded tanager	Tangara larvata	southern Mexico south to western Ecuador
	Masked tanager	Tangara nigrocincta	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
	Spangle-cheeked tanager	Tangara dowii	Costa Rica and western Panama
	Green-naped tanager	Tangara fucosa	Colombia and Panama
	Beryl-spangled tanager	Tangara nigroviridis	Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia
	Blue-and-black tanager	Tangara vassorii	Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
	Black-capped tanager	Tangara heinei	Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.
	Sira tanager	Tangara phillipsi	Peru
	Silver-backed tanager	Tangara viridicollis	southern Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
	Straw-backed tanager	Tangara argyrofenges	Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
	Black-headed tanager	Tangara argentea	South America (Andes of northeastern Colombia, Venezuelan Coastal Range and tepuis of southern Venezuela).
	Opal-rumped tanager	Tangara velia	Amazon and Atlantic Forest of South America
	Opal-crowned tanager	Tangara callophrys	southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru and a region of northwestern Bolivia; for Brazil

Former species

Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Tangara:

• South Island piopio (as Tanagra capensis)[6]

Distribution and habitat

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.

References

1. Sedano, R.E.; Burns, K.J. (2010). "Are the Northern Andes a species pump for Neotropical birds? Phylogenetics and biogeography of a clade of Neotropical tanagers (Aves: Thraupini)". Journal of Biogeography. 37: 325–343. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2009.02200.x.
2. Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux en Ordres, Sections, Genres, Especes & leurs Variétés (in French and Latin). Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. Vol. 1 p. 36 and Vol. 3 p. 3.
3. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1970). Check-list of Birds of the World. Volume 13. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 359.
4. Jobling, J.A. (2018). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Tanagers and allies". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
6. "Turnagra capensis - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2017-02-20.

Further reading

• ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2..
• Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5..
• Morton, Isler & Isler, Tanagers ISBN 0-7136-5116-4.
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4.

External links

• Media related to Tangara at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Tangara at Wikispecies