Silver-throated Tanager
Tangara icterocephala
The Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala) is a uncommon tanager found in 5 countries, weighing about 22 g. The silver-throated tanager is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.
About the Silver-throated Tanager
The silver-throated tanager is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. It inhabits mossy forests, montane forests, tropical lowland evergreen forests and forest edges, along with tall secondary forests and disturbed habitat with remnant trees and forest. It is 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighs 22 grams (0.78 oz) on average, and shows slight sexual dimorphism, with duller female plumage. Adult males are mainly bright yellow, with a silvery-white throat bordered above with a black stripe on the cheeks, black streaking on the back, and green edges to the wings and tail. Juveniles are duller…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The silver-throated tanager is an average-sized Tangara tanager, being 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighing 22 grams (0.78 oz) on average. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with females being duller than males. The male is mainly bright yellow, with a silvery-white throat bordered above with a black stripe on the cheeks. The back is yellow with black streaking, and the wings and tail are yellow with green edges. The iris is brown, the beak is black, and the feet are gray. Voice: The silver-throated tanager's calls are insect-like buzzes. When foraging or flying, the species has been recorded giving a harsh, buzzy jjeut, or a high-pitched bzeeet. It also gives a high-pitched tic. Its songs have not been described.
What the Silver-throated Tanager sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
The Silver-throated Tanager can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Silver-throated Tanager?
- The silver-throated tanager is an average-sized Tangara tanager, being 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighing 22 grams (0.78 oz) on average. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Silver-throated Tanager?
- The Silver-throated Tanager is a small sized bird weighing about 22 g.
- Where can you see a Silver-throated Tanager?
- The Silver-throated Tanager occurs in 5 countries, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama and Colombia.
- What does a Silver-throated Tanager sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Silver-throated Tanager on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Silver-throated Tanager?
- The Silver-throated Tanager is most easily confused with the Golden Tanager, the Bay-headed Tanager and the Beryl-spangled Tanager.
- Is the Silver-throated Tanager endangered?
- The Silver-throated Tanager is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Silver-throated Tanager for real
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