Puerto Rican Tanager

Nesospingus speculiferus

Puerto Rican Tanager · Passeriformes · Rare

The Puerto Rican Tanager (Nesospingus speculiferus) is a rare puerto rican tanager found only in Puerto Rico, weighing about 35 g. The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico.

VulnerableRareEndemicEats invertebratesforestcup nest35 g

About the Puerto Rican Tanager

The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico. It is the only member of the genus Nesospingus and has historically been placed in the tanager family, but recent studies indicate it as either belonging in its own family Nesospingidae or as being a member of Phaenicophilidae. Its closest relatives are likely the spindalises. The Puerto Rican tanager is known to locals as llorosa, which means 'cryer'.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine, typically measuring between 18 and 20 cm (7 and 8 in) in length and weighing around 36 g (1.3 oz). Both males and females are olive-brown above with pale grey to white underparts. Adults typically have faint dusky striping on the breast and pure white throats. Adults also have a conspicuous white spot on the wing and a dark crown and face which obscures the eye. Undertail coverts are pale fulvous. Males have a brown-black maxilla and white mandible and females have entirely black bills. Voice: The most frequently heard noise emitted by the Puerto Rican tanager is a harsh call note often described as a chewp or chuck. This is often heard while feeding in flocks and may be extended into a longer chi-chi-chit of varying lengths. The breeding song of the species is light, sweet rapidly sung tswet-tswet-tswet-tswet.

Where it lives

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in March. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Quick questions

How do you identify a Puerto Rican Tanager?
The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine, typically measuring between 18 and 20 cm (7 and 8 in) in length and weighing around 36 g (1.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Puerto Rican Tanager?
The Puerto Rican Tanager is a small sized bird weighing about 35 g.
Where can you see a Puerto Rican Tanager?
The Puerto Rican Tanager is endemic to Puerto Rico, which is the only country where it occurs.
Is the Puerto Rican Tanager endangered?
The Puerto Rican Tanager is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Puerto Rican 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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