White-lined Tanager - BirdForum Opus

Tachyphonus rufus

Male. Photo by HelenB
Location: Sarapiquis Neotropical Center, Costa Rica

Male showing the white linings under the wings. Photo by Pantanal1
Location: Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Female. Photo by Pantanal1
Location: Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Identification

Length: 14 cm (5.5 in); 16g
Adult male is glossy black with a small, often concealed, white patch on the scapulars (photo - right). The white wing linings are only visible in flight, as shown in the photo, below right. Adult female is rufous, paler below. Both have the typical tanager bill which is gray. Juvenile: like adult female, but duller with mottled appearance below.

Distribution

Costa Rica and Trinidad, to NW Ecuador, N Bolivia, NE Argentina and SE Brazil.

Habitat

Open woods, scrubby, dense young second growth and also around rural houses, coming to feeding stations.

Behaviour

Forages low, gleaning insects and eating seeds and fruit. Also hawks flying insects or pounces on ground insects from a low perch. Forms pairs throughout the year, nesting from April to July.

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