Silver-throated Tanager

It is common from about 600 m to 1700 m altitude in the lower and middle levels of wet mountain forests and adjacent semi-open areas like clearings with shade trees, second growth and woodland edges. In the heavy rains of the wet season, it will descend to sea level. The compact cup nest is built 1–13 m high in a tree on a branch. The normal clutch is two brown-blotched off-white eggs. This species will raise two broods in a season

The Silver-throated Tanager is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Photos: The Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocepala was at Mirador Cinchona, Costa Rica, on 18 Dec 2007. The female White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus was at Asa Wright Nature Reserve, Trinidad, on 24 Dec 2006, as was the male shown farther down the page. The female Small Ground-Finch Geospiza fuliginosa was on Santa Cruz I., Galapagos, on 25 Sep 1989. The male Variable Seedeater Sporophila aurita was near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, on 17 Dec 2007. More

The Silver-throated Tanager, Tangara icterocephala, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder in the highlands from Costa Rica to western Ecuador. It is common from about 600 m to 1700 m altitude in the lower and middle levels of wet mountain forests and adjacent semi-open areas like clearings with shade trees, second growth and woodland edges. In the heavy rains of the wet season, it will descend to sea level. More

Silver-throated Tanager is an average-sized member of the speciose genus Tangara. It is one of the few species of Tangara with a striped pattern on the upperparts. The Silver-throated Tanager primarily is yellow and black, but as the name suggests, the throat is conspicuously whitish. Similar Species Silver-throated Tanagers have a distinctive plumage and are unlikely to be mistaken for other species. More

Silver-throated Tanagers are brightly-colored, tropical birds found from Costa Rica to Ecuador. There are three subspecies, which all occur in tall second growth forest as well as in mossy forest, montane evergreen forest and tropical lowland evergreen forest (Isler and Isler 1987, Stotz et al. 1996). They eat a variety of fruits as well as some insects. They are usually found in mated pairs, but they often join small intraspecific flocks or large mixed species flocks when foraging. More

The adult Silver-throated Tanager is 13 cm long and weighs 21g. The male is mainly yellow, with black streaks down its back, and a whitish throat bordered above with a black malar stripe. The wings and tail are black with pale green edgings. The sexes are similar, but adult females have duller and greener-tinged yellow plumage, and sometimes dark mottling on the crown. More

Order : Passeriformes
Family : Thraupidae
Genus : Tangara
Species : icterocephala
Authority : (Bonaparte, 1851)