Carmiol's Tanager

Overview

Carmiol's tanager (Chlorothraupis carmioli) is a species of bird in the cardinal family Cardinalidae found in Central America from Nicaragua southwards to northwest Colombia. It was formerly considered conspecific with the yellow-lored tanager.

Identification

• About 17 cm long with a robust build and a relatively stout, dark-coloured beak.
• Upper parts are dull olive green and underparts are a paler olive green, with the male having a streaked, slightly yellow throat compared to the female's uniform pale yellow.
• Females have paler underparts and a yellowish patch in front of the eyes.

Habitat

Found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. Its range extends from Nicaragua southwards to northwest Colombia, with three recognised subspecies covering Nicaragua, Panama, and Colombia.

Diet

Feeds on small insects such as beetles, cockroaches, and crickets, supplementing these with berries. It is gregarious and often forms noisy groups of a few dozen birds, sometimes including other species.

Did you know?

The common name and specific epithet commemorate Franz Carmiol, the son of a German immigrant to Nicaragua, who collected the type specimen for the Smithsonian Institution.