Tanager
The tanagers (sg. pronounced /ˈtænədʒər/) are a family, Thraupidae, of birds in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution.
There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux. As more of these birds are studied using modern molecular techniques it is expected that some genera may be relocated elsewhere. Already the Euphonias and chlorophonias, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (Euphoniinae). Likewise the genera Piranga (which includes the Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, and Western Tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the Cardinal family, and have been reassigned to that family by the AOU.
Description
Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the White-eared Conebill, is 9 cm (3.8 in) long and weighs 7 grams, barely smaller than the Short-billed Honeycreeper. The longest, the Magpie Tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 grams (2.7 oz). The heaviest is the White-capped Tanager which weighs 114 grams (4 oz) and measures about 23 cm (8.7 in). Both sexes are usually the same size and weight. Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Birds in their first year are often duller or a different color altogether. Males are typically more brightly coloured than females.
Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.
Distribution
Tanagers are restricted to the New World and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.
Behaviour
Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of 3-5 individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. Birds may also be seen in single species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.
Diet
Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diet varies from genus to genus. They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts and insects. Many pick insects off branches. Other species look for insects on the underside of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.
Reproduction
The breeding season begin in March through until June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial while others build their nests closer together. There is little information on tanager breeding behavior or whether they are monogamous or polygamous. Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.
Most tanagers build cup nests on branches in trees. Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of the tree they choose to build their nest in and the nest's position varies among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. There is still no information on the nests of some species.
The clutch size is 3–5 eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young. Five species have helpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.
Systematics
Phylogenetic studies suggest the true tanagers form three main groups two of which consist of several smaller, well-supported clades. The list below is an attempt using information gleaned from the latest studies to organise them into coherent related groups, and as such may contain groupings not yet accepted by or are under review by the various ornithological taxonomy authorities.
Group 1
Mainly dull-coloured forms
a) Conebill and flowerpiercer group (Also contains Haplospiza, Catamenia, Acanthidops, Diglossa, Diglossopis, Phrygilus and Sicalis traditionally in the Emberizidae) This group despite having a rather varied bill morphology shows marked plumage similarities. Most are largely grey, blue, or black, and numerous have rufous on the underparts: Genus Conirostrum – typical conebills (10 species)
Genus Oreomanes – Giant Conebill
Genus Xenodacnis – Tit-like Dacnis
Genus Catamenia (3 species)
Genus Diglossa – typical flowerpiercers (14 species)
Genus Diglossopis – blue flowerpiercers (4 species)
Genus Haplospiza (2 species). Paraphyletic with 2 species of sierra-finch Phrygilus
Genus Acanthidops – Peg-billed Finch
Genus Phrygilus - sierra-finches (11 species)
Genus Sicalis – yellow-finches (12 species). Paraphyletic with Phrygilus
b) True seedeaters. Traditionally placed in Emberizidae. These genera share a particular foot-scute pattern which suggests that they may form a monophyletic group: Genus Sporophila – typical seedeaters (some 55 species)
Genus Oryzoborus (6 species)
Genus Dolospingus – White-naped Seedeater
Genus Charitospiza – Coal-crested Finch
c) "Yellow-rumped" clade: Genus Heterospingus (2 species)
Genus Chrysothlypis (2 species)
Genus Hemithraupis (3 species)
d) "Crested" clade (Also contains Coryphospingus & Volatinia traditionally placed in the Emberizidae): Genus Ramphocelus – silver-billed tanagers (9 species)
Genus Lanio – shrike-tanagers (4 species)
Genus Eucometis – Gray-headed Tanager
Genus Tachyphonus (8 species)
Genus Trichothraupis – Black-goggled Tanager
Genus Stephanophorus – Diademed Tanager
Genus Coryphospingus (2 species)
Genus Volatinia – Blue-black Grassquit
e) "Blue Finch" clade. Relationships within Thraupidae uncertain but may be related to "Poospiza" clade: Genus Porphyrospiza - Blue Finch
Genus? Phrygilus alaudinus - Band-tailed Sierra-finch
] f) The "Poospiza" clade - a diverse but close-knit group containing both warbler and finch-like forms: Genus Poospiza – Warbling-finches (15 species)
Genus Compsospiza - Mountain-finches (2 species)
Genus Cnemoscopus – Gray-hooded Bush Tanager
Genus Hemispingus – hemispinguses (12 species)
Genus Thlypopsis (6 species)
Genus Pyrrhocoma – Chestnut-headed Tanager
Genus Cypsnagra – White-rumped Tanager
Genus Nephelornis – Pardusco
g) Grass & Pampa-finches. Relationships within Thraupidae uncertain but together form a well-supported clade: Genus Emberizoides (3 species)
Genus Embernagra (2 species)
] h) A miscellaneous and likely polyphyletic group of unplaced "tanager-finches" (which may or may not include the species called Tanager-finch) whose members when studied will no doubt be relocated to other clades: Genus Melanodera (2 species)
Genus Rowettia – Gough Island Finch
Genus Nesospiza (2 species)
Genus Gubernatrix – Yellow Cardinal
Genus Idiopsar – Short-tailed Finch
Genus Piezorhina – Cinereous Finch
Genus Xenospingus – Slender-billed Finch
Genus Incaspiza – inca-finches (5 species)
Genus Coryphaspiza – Black-masked Finch
Genus Rhodospingus – Crimson-breasted Finch
Genus Donacospiza – Long-tailed Reed-finch (may be related to Poospiza)
i) Basal forms in group 1: Genus Conothraupis (2 species)
Genus Orchesticus – Brown Tanager
Genus Creurgops (2 species)
Group 2
"Typical" colourful Tanagers a) Tropical canopy tanagers: Genus Thraupis - T. abbas & episcopus at least
Genus Tangara (about 50 species)
b) The "Tholospiza" - Darwin's finches, grassquits, atypical honeycreepers and some seedeaters. The finch-like forms in this clade were formerly classified in the Emberizidae: Genus Geospiza – ground finches (6 species)
Genus Camarhynchus – tree finches (6 species)
Genus Certhidea – Warbler Finch
Genus Pinaroloxias – Cocos Island Finch
Genus Melopyrrha – Cuban Bullfinch
Genus Coereba – Bananaquit. Formerly placed in own family Coerebidae
Genus Tiaris – grassquits (5 species) - polyphyletic
Genus Loxipasser – Yellow-shouldered Grassquit
Genus Euneornis – Orangequit
Genus Melanospiza – St. Lucia Black Finch
Genus Loxigilla – Antillean bullfinches (3 species) - polyphyletic
c) Mountain tanagers: Genus Cyanicterus – Blue-backed Tanager
Genus Bangsia – (5 species)
Genus Buthraupis – (4 species)
Genus Chlorornis – Grass-green Tanager
Genus Wetmorethraupis – Orange-throated Tanager
Genus Anisognathus – (5 species)
Genus Dubusia – Buff-breasted Mountain-tanager
Genus Delothraupis – Chestnut-bellied Mountain-tanager
Genus? Saltator rufiventris - Rufous-bellied 'Saltator'
d) Typical tanagers: Genus Thraupis - Thraupis bonariensis at least belongs here
Genus Pipraeidea – Fawn-breasted Tanager
Genus Iridosornis (5 species)
e) Typical multicoloured tanagers (includes Paroaria traditionally placed in either Emberizidae or Cardinalidae): Genus Diuca (2 species)
Genus Lophospingus (2 species)
Genus Neothraupis – White-banded Tanager
Genus Cissopis – Magpie Tanager
Genus Paroaria (5–6 species)
Genus Schistochlamys (2 species)
f) Green & Golden-collared Honeycreepers: Genus Chlorophanes – Green Honeycreeper
Genus Iridophanes – Golden-collared Honeycreeper
g) Typical honeycreepers and relatives: Genus Tersina – Swallow Tanager
Genus Cyanerpes, the typical honeycreepers (4 species)
Genus Pseudodacnis – Turquoise Dacnis-tanager
Genus Dacnis, the dacnises (8 species)
h) Basal lineages within group 2:] Genus Chlorochrysa (3 species)
Genus Parkerthraustes – Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak (traditionally in Cardinalidae, but biochemical evidence suggests it is a tanager)
Genus Nemosia – (2 species)
Genus Compsothraupis – Scarlet-throated Tanager
Genus Sericossypha – White-capped Tanager
Group 3
Saltators
Genus Saltator (16 species; traditionally placed in Cardinalidae, but biochemical evidence suggests they may be tanagers or a sister group)
Genus Saltatricula – Many-colored Chaco-finch. Traditionally placed in the Emberizidae but may be related to one of the Saltators
Thraupidae incertae sedis
Genus Mitrospingus (2 species)
Genus Orthogonys – Olive-green Tanager
Genus Calochaetes – Vermilion Tanager
Genus Catamblyrhynchus – Plushcap or Plush-capped Finch
Genus Oreothraupis – Tanager-finch
Genus Urothraupis – Black-backed Bush-tanager
Genus Rhodinocichla – Rosy Thrush-tanager
Genus Lamprospiza – Red-billed Pied Tanager
Genus Phaenicophilus – palm-tanagers (2 species)
Genus Xenoligea – White-winged warbler
Genus Microligea – Green-tailed warbler
Genus Calyptophilus – chat-tanagers (2 species)
Genus Nesospingus – Puerto Rican Tanager
Recently split from Thraupidae
Related to Arremonops and other American sparrows in Emberizidae: Genus Chlorospingus – bush-tanagers (around 10 species)
Related to the cardinals in Cardinalidae: Genus Piranga – northern tanagers (9 species)
Genus Habia – ant-tanagers or habias (5 species)
Genus Chlorothraupis (3 species)
Genus Amaurospiza (4 species; apparently very close to Cyanocompsa)
Fringillinae, subfamily Euphoniinae: Genus Euphonia (over 25 species)
Genus Chlorophonia (5 species)
Exact affinities uncertain, but lie outside the tanagers: Genus Spindalis – spindalises (4 species).
Translation of "Tanager"
Bulgarian: Тангари, German: Tangaren, Spanish: Thraupidae, Esperanto: Traŭpedoj, French: Thraupidae, Hebrew: טנגריים, Lithuanian: Tanagros, Hungarian: Tangarafélék, Dutch: Thraupidae, Japanese: フウキンチョウ族 (Sibley), Norwegian (Nynorsk): Tanagarar, Polish: Tanagry, Portuguese: Thraupini, Russian: Танагровые, Finnish: Tangarat, Swedish: Tangaror.
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