ANIMAL: Silver-Beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo Type of Animal: Songbird Habitat: Light woodland, cultivated areas, forest/forest borders/edges (semiopen & closed), semiopen areas, estates, neighborhoods, suburban areas, semiopen bushy/second growth areas in forest edges, semiopen bushy/second growth areas along rivers/lakes, semiopen bushy/second growth areas along roadways, semiopen second growth/bushy areas in savanna, semiopen second growth/bushy areas on abandoned plantations, second growth, scrub, mountain foothills Location(s): N South America & Trinidad Appearance: Males velvety crimson black w/ deep crimson throat/breast, black upper mandible, bright silver enlarged lower mandible. Females much duller w/ brownish upper body, reddish brown belly, & gray-black bill, lower mandible less prominent on female Food/Diet: Fruit, berries, insects, flowers, nectar Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & aviculture Lifestyle: Flocks of 6-10 birds Additional Info: Called: Male: Cock Female: Hen Young: Chick Group: Flock Weight: Male: 0.95 oz Female: 0.94 oz Young: 0.7 oz Gestation: 2 weeks Life Span: 5-8 years in wild, 11-15 years in captivity Height: Male: 7.17 in Female: 7.01 in Body Length: Male: 7.17 in Female: 7.01 in Tail Length: Male: 3.03 in Female: 2.97 in Main predators are carnivorous/omnivorous mammals, predatory birds, snakes, & crocodilians. Bulky cup nests usually built in bushes-3.28-8.2 ft off ground. Sometimes nest as high as 24 ft off ground. Males sing to/show off at/feed females in courtship. Females solicit mating by wing fluttering/tail lifting/crouching. Females usually lay 2-3 blotchy green-blue eggs. Sometimes found w/ other bird species. Active during the day (diurnal). Sexually mature at 8 months old. Song slow thin kick-wick & call cheeng call. Chicks fledge at 2 weeks old but stay w/ parents for longer. When flying, flock members follow leader closely & flick wings/tail before flying. When threatened, they’ll assume erect & crouch posture & silently gape. Female incubates eggs but both parents take care of chicks. Fun Fact(s): Gets name from silver beak said to shine even when sun not out. Word tanager comes from Brazilian Tupi Indian word “tangara."
