- Tangara arthus
Identification
A small (length 13.5-14cm, 5.25-5.5in.), common, brightly golden-colored tanager with a rich black pattern of stripes on the back and a black cheek patch.
Similar Species
Silver-throated Tanager, which has a white throat, as opposed to the Golden's chestnut or yellow throat.
Emerald Tanager has green overall plumage.
Distribution
South America: found in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Photo © by Stanley Jones
Cock of the Rock Lodge, Challabamba, Parque Nacional del Manu, Cusco Department, Peru, September 2018
Nine subspecies are recognized:[1]:
- T. a. occidentalis: Western and Central Andes of Colombia (Antioquia to Nariño)
- T. a. palmitae: Western slope of Eastern Andes of Colombia (southern Magdalena)
- T. a. sclateri: Both slopes of Eastern Andes of Colombia
- T. a. aurulenta: Central Colombia (upper Magdalena Valley) to north-western Venezuela
- T. a. arthus: Mountains of northern Venezuela (Táchira to Lara, Falcón and Miranda)
- T. a. goodsoni: Subtropical western Ecuador
- T. a. aequatorialis: Subtropical eastern Ecuador and northern Peru
- T. a. pulchra: Central Peru (Chachapoyas to Chanchamayo)
- T. a. sophiae: Tropical south-eastern Peru (Cuzco and Puno) to north-western Bolivia
Habitat
Canopies and borders of montane humid and wet forests on both slopes of the Andes, typically between 900m and 2000m elevation; semi-open scrub, mountain gardens and agricultural land.
Behaviour
Diet
Forages for fruit (including bananas) and insects in foliage, often in small mixed flocks. Will come to fruit feeders.
Breeding
A nest was observed being built in a bromelia, about four meters high on a tree.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved April 2014)
- BF Member observations
- Neotropical Birds
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Golden Tanager. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Golden_Tanager
