Black-faced Tanager - Schistochlamys melanopis

Length 6.5 in (16.5 cm)
Weight 1.0-1.4 oz (29-40 g)
Clutch Size 2
Chicks at birth Altricial
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Continents:SA
     

The Black-faced Tanager is a South American bird and can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. There are five subspecies of this bird.

Black-faced Tanagers upperparts are dark gray with the underparts a lighter gray. The head and bib are black. The bill is also black with a bluish-gray base. The eyes are a dark red. Both sexes look identical. Juveniles are a dark yellowish olive green with lighter underparts. They also have a pale yellow eye-ring.

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Diet: Black-faced Tanagers eat fruit, berries, seeds and some insects. They forage in the upper portions and crowns of small trees and shrubs.

Courtship: Found no information on their courtship. They are usually found in pairs or small family groups.

Nesting: They build an open cup nest of grass in low vegetation at the edge of an open space. Usually two grayish or yellowish-white eggs with dark spots are laid. Both parents raise the young.

Habitat and Range: Tropical and sub-tropical lowland forests and foothills, dry savannas and scrubland. They prefer grasslands with low trees and bushes.

Vocalization: Their song is rhythmic and usually consists of 3 or 4 rich, flutelike whistled phrases that is sung in about 3 seconds with a pause of 10 seconds between calls.

Plumage/Molt Black-faced Tanagers do not have an alternate plumage and probably molt annually.

Migration: Non-migratory but some Black-faced Tanagers from Brazil may seasonally migrate.

Tongue/feet: Feet and legs are dark gray.

Bibliography:

  • Isler, Morton L. and Isler, Phyllis R., The Tanagers: Natural History, distribution, and Identification,Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1987
  • http://en.wikipedia.org The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed December, 2012
  • http://www.aviary.org/animals/ National Aviary, Pittsburg, Penn., Accessed December, 2012

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