Paradise Tanager

ANIMAL:
Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis

Type of Animal:
Songbird

Habitat:
Forests, forest edges, second-growth woodland, shaded plantations, forest clearings

Location(s):
N South America

Appearance:
Bright green head, sky blue belly/throat/abdomen, black & dark blue back sometimes w/ light yellow/yellow/cadmium yellow/red/orange rump, black nape, black beak/legs/feet

Food/Diet:
Fruit, berries, arthropods/arthropod larvae, worms, nuts

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & aviculture

Lifestyle:
Flocks of 2-10 birds

Additional Info:

Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Flock
 
Weight:
0.6 oz

Gestation:
2 weeks

Life Span:
7 years

Height:
5.31-5.9 in

Body Length:
5.31-5.9 in

Tail Length:
1 in

Main predators are carnivorous/omnivorous mammals, predatory birds, snakes, & crocodilians.
 
Usually forage in upper canopy, hopping along bare branches.
 
Females lay 2-4 whitish eggs marked w/ purplish red spots in cup-shaped nests.
 
Songs include sharp moderate-pitched ‘chak’, thin rising ‘zeee’ & high ‘sizit.’ In early morning, gives repeated ‘chak-zeet’ every 2 seconds.
 
Males sing more often than females.
 
Active during the day (diurnal).
 
Often awaken before other birds to ruffle/preen feathers in order to keep them in best condition.
 
During courtship, female assumes solicitation posture w/ tail/head up & wings flapping.
 
Females do more nest building but both sexes help build nest.
 
Known to be difficult to breed in captivity. Fortunately, they’re common in wild.
 
Sometimes follow army ants which panic other insects to seek refuge up tree trunks where tanagers catch the fleeing insects.
 
Sometimes seen flocking w/ other bird species.
 
Sometimes bathe in water of Cecropia leaves.
 
Tend to be very excitable & noisy.

Fun Fact(s):
Tangara(genus name) is Tupi word for brightly colored bird
 
Sometimes kept as cage birds due to beauty & song.
 
Despite being very colorful, they blend in very well & tend to be quite shy.
 
Despite scientific name, it’s not found in Chile.
 
Sometimes called “seven-colored bird” due to all the colors. Also called seven-colored tanager which leads to confusion w/ closely related species Seven-Colored Tanager (Tangara fastuosa). Seven-Colored Tanager looks somewhat similar to this species but has more painted look. Green-Headed Tanager (Tangara seledon) confusingly called Seven-Coloured Tanager has more green appearance but has similar look to both species.

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