Spangle-cheeked tanager
| Spangle-cheeked tanager | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Tangara |
| Species: | T. dowii
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| Binomial name | |
| Tangara dowii (Salvin, 1863)
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The spangle-cheeked tanager (Tangara dowii) is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is an endemic resident breeder in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
Formerly considered conspecific with the green-naped tanager, it is now known that these two species differ geographically and genetically.[2]
It is common from about 1,200 to 3,000 m (3,900 to 9,800 ft) altitude in the canopy of epiphyte-laden wet mountain forests, and at lower levels in semi-open areas like clearings with trees, second growth and woodland edges. The bulky cup nest, lined with bromeliad leaves, is built in a tree fork or on a branch high amongst the epiphytes. The normal clutch is two eggs.
The adult spangle-cheeked tanager is 13 cm (5.1 in) long and weighs 20 g (0.71 oz).[2] It has a mainly black head, upperparts and breast, with blue scaling on the breast, sides of the face and neck, and a rufous crown patch. The wings and tail have blue edgings. The rump is green and the belly is cinnamon. The sexes are very similar, but adult males have more extensive blue scaling. Immatures are generally duller, with no crown patch, and less distinct blue scaling.
Spangle-cheeked tanagers occur in pairs, family groups, or as part of a mixed-species feeding flock (particularly those containing common bush tanagers).[2] They eat small fruit, usually swallowed whole, insects and spiders.
The spangle-cheeked tanager's call is a high tsip.
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Tangara dowii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22722924A94793672. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22722924A94793672.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Schulenberg, T.S., ed. (2010). "Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii)". Neotropical Birds Online. Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
- Stiles, F. Gary; Skutch, Alexander F. (1989). A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4.
External links
[edit]
- "Spangle-cheeked tanager media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Spangle-cheeked tanager photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Tangara dowii at IUCN Red List maps