Bird Guide

Fawn-breasted Tanager vs Saffron-crowned Tanager

Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota)

Fawn-breasted Tanager

Pipraeidea melanonota

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The fawn-breasted tanager has an average body length of 14 cm (5.5 in) and can weigh 18–25 g (0.63–0.88 oz). This species of tanager has an unusually short, wide beak, similar to the beaks of swallows, as well as short legs and tail, and long wings. The most noticeable coloration of this species is its sky-blue crown and broad black mask that extends over the eyes into ear-coverts. The coloration of the male crown and nape is a medium blue, and the forehead, lores, ocular area, and ear-coverts are deep black.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Fawn-breasted Tanager
Recorded by JUAN ANTONIO ALONSO DE JUAN · Song · Vereda La Máquina, Pacho, Cundinamarca, Colombia · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Joao Quental · CC BY 2.0
Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala)

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Tangara xanthocephala

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The saffron-crowned tanager is an average-sized species of tanager, with a length of 12.5–13.5 cm (4.9–5.3 in) and a mass of 15–23.6 g (0.53–0.83 oz). Both sexes look similar. Adults have a blue-green body with blackish streaking on the back. The forecrown, lores, orbital area (region around the eyes), and chin are black, while the rest of the head is yellow, with an orange tinge to the crown. The wings and tail feathers are black, edged blue-green. The center of the belly and the undertail coverts are buff. The iris is dark brown, the bill is black, and the feet are gray. Voice: The saffron-crowned tanager's calls include a thin, high-pitched tsit and a high-pitched descending tsew. Its songs may be a series of squeaky, high-pitched notes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/birding-colombia/ · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Fawn-breasted Tanager and Saffron-crowned Tanager.