Tangara is a large genus of birds of the tanager family. It includes 27 species. 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 species list The genus Tangara was introduced by the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the paradise tanager (Tangara chilensis) as the type species. The name means "dancer" in the extinct Tupi language.

The genus formerly included additional species. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that many of the members of Thraupis was embedded within Tangara. In the reorganization to create monophyletic genera, rather than merging Thraupis into Tangara to create an unusually large genus with around 58 species, taxonomists chose to split off species from Tangara into four other genera. Two of these genera were newly erected (Stilpnia, Poecilostreptus) and two were resurrected: they had been introduced earlier but were not in use (Ixothraupis, Chalcothraupis).

The genus now contains 28 species:

Image Common name Scientific name Distribution Blue-and-black tanager Tangara vassoriiBolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela Beryl-spangled tanager Tangara nigroviridisColombia through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia Spangle-cheeked tanager Tangara dowii Costa Rica and western Panama Green-naped tanager Tangara fucosa Colombia and Panama Blue-browed tanager Tangara cyanotis Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru Rufous-cheeked tanager Tangara rufigenis Venezuela Metallic-green tanager Tangara labradorides Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru 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 Golden-eared tanager Tangara chrysotis eastern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru Saffron-crowned tanager Tangara xanthocephalanorthern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Flame-faced tanager Tangara parzudakii eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela Blue-whiskered tanager Tangara johannae Colombia and Ecuador Green-and-gold tanager Tangara schrankii eastern Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, central Bolivia, and northwestern Brazil Golden tanager Tangara arthus Andes (from Bolivia and northwards) and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America Emerald tanager Tangara florida Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama Silver-throated tanager Tangara icterocephalaCosta Rica, through Panama and western Colombia, to western Ecuador. 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 desmarestiBrazil Gilt-edged tanager Tangara cyanoventris Brazil 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 White-bellied tanager Tangara brasiliensis east Brazil Paradise tanager Tangara chilensis western and northern Amazon Basin in South America (Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and the Guianas) Opal-crowned tanager Tangara callophrys southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and Peru, northwestern Bolivia, Amazonas state and Acre in Brazil Opal-rumped tanager Tangara velia Amazon and Atlantic Forest of South America

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

Further reading . . Morton, Isler & Isler, Tanagers . Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica .

External links