Template:Short description Template:For {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Distinguish Template:Use American English Template:Automatic taxobox The tanagers (singular Template:IPAc-en) comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.<ref name=burns2014/>
Traditionally, the family contained around 240 species of mostly brightly colored fruit-eating birds.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> As more of these birds were studied using modern molecular techniques, it became apparent that the traditional families were not monophyletic. Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of the 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 family Cardinalidae,<ref name= YM2002>Template:Cite journal</ref> and have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:TOC limit
DescriptionEdit
Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is Template:Convert long and weighs Template:Convert, barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is Template:Convert and weighs Template:Convert. The heaviest is the white-capped tanager, which weighs Template:Convert and measures about Template:Convert. Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.
Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.
DistributionEdit
Tanagers are restricted to the Western Hemisphere 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.
BehaviorEdit
Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. These birds may also be seen in single-species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.Template:Citation needed
DietEdit
Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in the wood. Other species look for insects on the undersides 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.
BreedingEdit
The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial, while others build their nests closer together. Little information is available on tanager breeding behavior. 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 in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. No information is yet known regarding the nests of some species.
The clutch size is three to five 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.
TaxonomyEdit
The family Thraupidae was introduced (as the subfamily Thraupinae) in 1847 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The type genus is Thraupis.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as the New World, nine-primaried oscines. The traditional pre-molecular classification was largely based on the different feeding specializations. Nectar-feeders were placed in Coerebidae (honeycreepers), large-billed seed-eaters in Cardinalidae (cardinals and grosbeaks), smaller-billed seed-eaters in Emberizidae (New World finches and sparrows), ground-foraging insect-eaters in Icteridae (blackbirds) and fruit-eaters in Thraupidae.<ref name=burns2014/> This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies.<ref name=klicka2007/> Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series of molecular phylogenetic studies led to a complete reorganization of the traditional families. Thraupidae now includes large-billed seed eaters, thin-billed nectar feeders, and foliage gleaners as well as fruit-eaters.<ref name=burns2014/>
One consequence of redefining the family boundaries is that for many species their common names are no longer congruent with the families in which they are placed. As of July 2020 there are 39 species with "tanager" in the common name that are not placed in Thraupidae. These include the widely distributed scarlet tanager and western tanager, which are both now placed in Cardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.<ref name=ioc/>
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were not monophyletic.<ref name=burns2014>Template:Cite journal</ref> In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.<ref name=burns2016>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=ioc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
As of March 2025 the family contains 393 species which are divided into 15 subfamilies and 105 genera.<ref name=burns2014/><ref name=ioc/> For a complete list, see the article List of tanager species.
List of generaEdit
CatamblyrhynchinaeEdit
The plushcap has no close relatives and is now placed in its own subfamily. It was previously placed either in the subfamily Catamblyrhynchinae within the Emberizidae or in its own family Catamblyrhynchidae.<ref name=burns2014/>
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Plush-capped Finch - Colombia S4E1689 (22623276893).jpg | Catamblyrhynchus Template:Small |
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CharitospizinaeEdit
The coal-crested finch is endemic to the grasslands of Brazil and has no close relatives. It is unusual in that both sexes have a crest. It was formerly placed in Emberizidae.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Charitospiza eucosma - Coal-crested Finch.jpg | Charitospiza Template:Small |
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OrchesticinaeEdit
Two species with large thick bills. Parkerthraustes was formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Brown Tanager - Itatiaia - Brazil MG 0161 (23224278996).jpg | Orchesticus Template:Small |
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File:Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak.jpg | Parkerthraustes Template:Small |
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NemosiinaeEdit
Brightly colored, sexually dichromatic birds. Most form single-species flocks.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Nemosia pileata.jpg | Nemosia Template:Small |
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File:Cyanicterus cyanicterus - Blue-backed Tanager (female); Ramal do Pau Rosa, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.jpg | Cyanicterus Template:Small |
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File:Sericossypha albocristata Pollo de monte White-capped Tanager (11198228383).jpg | Sericossypha Template:Small |
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File:Compsothraupis loricata Scarlet-throated Tanager (female); Januária, Minas Gerais, Brazil.jpg | Compsothraupis Template:Small |
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EmberizoidinaeEdit
Grassland dwelling birds that were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Coryphospiza melanotis - Black-masked Finch; Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil.jpg | Coryphaspiza Template:Small |
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File:Embernagra longicauda - Pale-throated Pampa-Finch; Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil.jpg | Embernagra Template:Small |
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File:Emberizoides herbicola -Piraju, Brasil -nature reserve-8a.jpg | Emberizoides Template:Small |
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PorphyrospizinaeEdit
Yellow billed birds. The blue finch (Rhopospina caerulescens) was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:GreatInca-Finch.jpg | Incaspiza Template:Small |
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File:Mourning Sierra Finch (Rhopospina fruticeti), Colca Canyon, Peru.jpg | Rhopospina Template:Small |
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HemithraupinaeEdit
These species are sexually dichromatic and many have yellow and black plumage. Except for Heterospingus, they have slender bills.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Green honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza spiza) male.jpg | Chlorophanes Template:Small |
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File:Iridophanes pulcherrimus - Golden-collared Honeycreeper; Ecuador.jpg | Iridophanes Template:Small |
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File:Chrysothlypis salmoni - Scarlet-and-White Tanager.jpg | Chrysothlypis Template:Small |
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File:Scarlet-browed Tanager (Heterospingus xanthopygius (8079749074).jpg | Heterospingus Template:Small |
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File:Hemithraupis ruficapilla.jpg | Hemithraupis Template:Small |
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DacninaeEdit
Sexually dichromatic species—males have blue plumage and females are green.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Tersina viridis -Registro, Sao Paulo, Brazil -male-8.jpg | Tersina Template:Small |
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File:Red-legged Honeycreeper - Panama H8O2103 (23250437695).jpg | Cyanerpes Template:Small |
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File:Dacnis cayana -Vale do Ribeira, Registro, Sao Paulo, Brasil-8.jpg | Dacnis Template:Small |
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SaltatorinaeEdit
Mainly arboreal with long tails and thick bills. Formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
CoerebinaeEdit
This subfamily includes Darwin's finches that are endemic to the Galápagos Islands and Cocos Island. Most of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed in Parulidae and the orangequit that was placed in Thraupidae. These species build domed or covered nests with side entrances. They have evolved a variety of foraging techniques, including nectar-feeding (Coereba, Euneornis), seed-eating (Geospiza, Loxigilla, Tiaris), and insect gleaning (Certhidea).<ref name=burns2014/>
TachyphoninaeEdit
Most of these are lowland species. Many have ornamental features such as crests, and many have sexually dichromatic plumage.<ref name=burns2014/>
SporophilinaeEdit
These species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
Image | Genus | Species |
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File:Sporophila hypoxantha.jpg | Sporophila Template:Small |
PoospizinaeEdit
Some of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
DiglossinaeEdit
This is a morphologically diverse group that includes seed-eaters (Nesospiza, Sicalis, Catamenia, Haplospiza), arthropod feeders (Conirostrum), a bamboo specialist (Acanthidops), an aphid feeder (Xenodacnis), and boulder field specialists (Idiopsar). Many species live at high altitudes. Conirostrum was previously placed in Parulidae, Diglossa was placed in Thraupidae, and the remaining genera were placed in Emberizidae.<ref name=burns2014/>
ThraupinaeEdit
Typical tanagers.
Genera formerly placed in ThraupidaeEdit
Passerellidae – New World sparrows<ref name=barker2013>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Chlorospingus – eight species - bush-tanagers
- Oreothraupis – tanager finch
Cardinalidae – cardinals<ref name=burns2003>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=klicka2007>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Piranga – 9 species - northern tanagers
- Habia – five species - ant-tanagers or habias
- Chlorothraupis – three species
- Amaurospiza – four species
Fringillidae – subfamily Euphoniinae
- Euphonia – 27 species
- Chlorophonia – five species
Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan tanagers<ref name=barker2013/><ref name=barker2015>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Microligea – green-tailed warbler
- Xenoligea – white-winged warbler
- Phaenicophilus – two species
Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid tanagers<ref name=barker2013/>
- Mitrospingus – two species
- Orthogonys – olive-green tanager
- Lamprospiza – red-billed pied tanager
- Nesospingus – Puerto Rican tanager<ref name=barker2013/><ref name=barker2015/>
- Spindalis – four species - spindalises<ref name=barker2013/><ref name=barker2015/>
- Calyptophilus – two species - chat-tanagers<ref name=barker2013/><ref name=barker2015/>
- Rhodinocichla – rosy thrush-tanager<ref name=barker2013/><ref name=barker2015/>
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}
External linksEdit
- Jungle-walk.com tanager pictures
- Tanager videos, photos and sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- Template:Cite NSRW