ANIMAL: Opal-Rumped Tanager Tangara velia Type of Animal: Songbird Habitat: Forests, forest edges, disturbed areas, second-growth woodland, clearings w/ scattered trees, plantations, can be found as high as 3,937 ft above sea level Location(s): Found in Guiana Shield, S Venezuela, E Colombia, E Ecuador, E Peru, N Bolivia, & much of Brazil Appearance: Colorful tanager species, blue head w/ black crown/mantle, blue to violet blue belly/breast, black neck band, opal rump, rufous lower belly/vent, E Brazil population paler Food/Diet: Fruit, berries, insects Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos & aviculture Lifestyle: Flocks of 2-15 birds Additional Info: Called: Male: Cock Female: Hen Young: Chick Group: Flock Weight: 0.67-0.81 oz Gestation: 2 weeks Life Span: 5-7 years Height: 4.5-6 in Body Length: 4.5-6 in Tail Length: 2 in These tanagers can often be seen w/ other tanager species. These birds are very active. These birds are rather shy. Chicks fledge at 2 weeks but stay w/ parents for a little while longer. Breeding pairs sometimes assisted w/ helpers from previous brood and/or unrelated birds. Females lay 2-3 eggs. Females build well-concealed cup nests. They’ll emit high-pitched twitters or chips during flight. These birds sedentary throughout range. Fun Fact(s): Population found in E Brazil’s Atlantic Forest may be separate species called Silvery-Breasted Tanager. In 1743, English naturalist George Edwards included illustration/description of this species in A Natural History of Uncommon Birds using “Red-belly’d Blue-bird” to describe it. Hand-colored etching based on specimen owned by Duke of Richmond.
