Birds of Colombia

    PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae (Tanagers & Allies)  
Genus: Tangara (20 species, 28 worldwide)

Tangara, the largest genus of tanagers, are small colorful fruit-eaters that travel in mixed flocks.


Golden Tanager
Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus)
Minga Ecolodge, Cali, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A common and widespread forest-based tanager. Moves in mixed flocks.

Opal-crowned Tanager
Opal-crowned Tanager (Tangara callophrys)
Reserva Natural La Isla Escondida, Orito, Putumayo, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Paradise Tanager
Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis)
 
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Golden-eared Tanager
Golden-eared Tanager (Tangara chrysotis)
Palestina, Huila, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Blue-browed Tanager
Blue-browed Tanager (Tangara cyanotis lutleyi)
Via Sibundoy - Mocoa , Putumayo, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Brayan Coral Jaramillo   © All Rights Reserved.


Emerald Tanager
Emerald Tanager (Tangara florida)
Canopy San Luis, San Ramon-Alajuela, Costa Rica  
   
Photograph by Jorge Obando Gutierrez   © Copyrighted, All Rights Reserved.

Similar to the well-known Golden Tanager, but lime green.

Green-naped Tanager
Green-naped Tanager (Tangara fucosa)
Darien National Park, Panama  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Very similar to the Spangle-cheeked Tanager of Costa Rica and Panama, but only found in the Darien highlands.

Bay-headed Tanager
Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola)
Minca, Magdalena, Colombia
  The all green Santa Marta race.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Bay-headed Tanager
Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola)
ProAves Cerulean Warbler Reserve, San Vicente de Chucuri, Santander, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Silver-throated Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager (Tangara icterocephala icterocephala)
Queremal, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A common small tanager that comes to feeders.

Plain-colored Tanager
Plain-colored Tanager (Tangara inornata)
Soberania National Park, Panama  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Blue-whiskered Tanager
Blue-whiskered Tanager (Tangara johannae)
Farallones National Park, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Metallic-green Tanager
Metallic-green Tanager (Tangara labradorides labradorides)
La Romera, Itagui, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small forest-based tanager found above 1800m, and usually seen in mixed flocks, and never at feeders.

Rufous-winged Tanager
Rufous-winged Tanager (Tangara lavinia lavinia) Male
Farallones National Park, Colombia
  Note rufous on wings compared to Bay-headed Tanager.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Rufous-winged Tanager
Rufous-winged Tanager (Tangara lavinia lavinia) Female
Bahia Solano, Choco, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Generally found at lower altitudes than the similar Bay-winged Tanager.
Alt. photo

Turquoise Tanager
Turquoise Tanager (Tangara mexicana)
Puerto Nariño, Amazonas, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Despite the latin name, not found in Mexico. Reasonably common in Amazon. Races differ mainly in belly color, from white to yellow.

Beryl-spangled Tanager
Beryl-spangled Tanager (Tangara nigroviridis cyanescens)
RN La Planada, Nariño, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

An attractive mostly forest-based tanager usually seen over 1800 m. that often moves in mixed flocks and never comes to feeders.
Plainly colored immature.

Flame-faced Tanager
Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii lunigera)
Mindo, Ecuador
  Pacific 'Choco' region birds have a yellow face.
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Flame-faced Tanager
Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii parzudakii)
Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Feeding.

Green-and-gold Tanager
Green-and-gold Tanager (Tangara schrankii)
 
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.


Blue-and-black Tanager
Blue-and-black Tanager (Tangara vassorii vassorii)
San Sebastian Reserve, Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

A small tanager usually seen between 2400 and 3000 meters above sea level.

Opal-rumped Tanager
Opal-rumped Tanager (Tangara velia)
Mato Grosso, Brazil  
   
Photograph by Joao Quental     Copyright and usage info

The Silver-breasted Tanager (Tangara velia cyanomelas) found in east Brazil is sometimes considered a distinct species Tangara cyanomelas.

Saffron-crowned Tanager
Saffron-crowned Tanager (Tangara xanthocephala venusta)
Finca Alejandria, Cali, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.



© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba