Emerald Tanager
Tangara florida
The Emerald Tanager (Tangara florida) is a uncommon tanager found in 4 countries, weighing about 19 g. The emerald tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.










About the Emerald Tanager
The emerald tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. Described by the English ornithologists PL Sclater and Osbert Salvin in 1869, it is a medium-sized species that has a length of 10.6–13 cm (4.2–5.1 in) and a mass of 18–20.5 g (0.63–0.72 oz). It can be identified by its bright green plumage, with black streaking on the back and wings, and a black auricular patch and beak. It also has yellow on the crown and rump. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with the females being duller and having yellow-green in place of yellow on the head.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The emerald tanager is a medium-sized tanager with a length of 10.6–13 cm (4.2–5.1 in) and a mass of 18–20.5 g (0.63–0.72 oz). Both sexes are similar in appearance, but the species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with females being duller and having yellow-green instead of yellow on the head. It may be confused with the glistening-green tanager but can be told apart by its less intense plumage. It is also similar to the blue-whiskered tanager but can be distinguished by the latter's black face and throat and turquoise cheeks. Voice: The emerald tanager makes a sharp chip or tsip which may be repeated and which occasionally accelerates into a rapid twitter. Its song is a series of loud cheet or chiip notes.
What the Emerald Tanager sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Emerald Tanager?
- The emerald tanager is a medium-sized tanager with a length of 10.6–13 cm (4.2–5.1 in) and a mass of 18–20.5 g (0.63–0.72 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Emerald Tanager?
- The Emerald Tanager is a small sized bird weighing about 19 g.
- Where can you see an Emerald Tanager?
- The Emerald Tanager occurs in 4 countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.
- What does an Emerald Tanager sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Emerald Tanager on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an Emerald Tanager?
- The Emerald Tanager is most easily confused with the Red-necked Tanager, the Spangle-cheeked Tanager and the Green-and-gold Tanager.
- Is the Emerald Tanager endangered?
- The Emerald Tanager is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Emerald Tanager for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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