Ron's Critter of the Day

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae

Genus/species: Tangara chilensis paradisea 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: In Spanish, called “sieite colores” for its seven-colored appearance: green, yellow, scarlet, black, and three colors of blue feathers adorn this handsome bird. Monomorphic (males and females look similar). Length 13.5 to 15 cm 5.3 to 6 inches.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: South America: common in Venezuela, Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil. Found in the canopy and edges of subtropical to tropical lowland humid forests, including parts of the Amazon basin and upwards to 1400 m (4500 feet). Often moves in mixed flocks.

DIET IN THE WILD: Mainly fruit, buds, leaves. Forage from middle heights to treetops. Also, like other  tanagers, picks insects from leaves or sometimes takes them in flight. Often moves and feeds in mixed flocks.

REPRODUCTION: Female builds a cup nest where she lays two or three brown or lilac-speckled white eggs. Eggs hatch in 13–14 days; chicks fledge in additional 15–16 days. Nestlings are feed insects and fruit by both male and female..

CONSERVATION: IUCN, least concern.

Rainforest.

1-8-09, 11-11-11

flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3259028446/in/set-72157608454346681

WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-15F

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae

Genus/species: Tachyphonus phoenicius

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Males are basically all black, with a tiny red and white patch on the shoulder region and white underwing linings. Females, are brownish gray above, while the throat and middle abdomen are white. Pairs of Red-shouldered Tanagers usually forage in close proximity, low down, but often keeping within cover. Length 16-17 cm (6.3-6.7 inches).

Male above and below

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Found in dry shrubland or seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. Also open rainforest, to 2000 m (6500 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Insects and fruit.

female below

CONSERVATION: IUCN, least concern (population trend stable).

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608454346681/with/3334159981/

WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-15y