White-rumped Tanager

Overview

The white-rumped tanager (Cypsnagra hirundinacea) is a South American bird and the sole member of the genus Cypsnagra. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, it is the only species in its genus.

Identification

• Length of 16 cm (6.3 in) with a weight of 25–34 g (0.88–1.20 oz).

Habitat

Found mostly in Brazil, and also in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Suriname, typically at elevations of 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft). They inhabit grasslands with few trees and are often found in territorial groups of three to six individuals in Brazil.

Diet

They eat insects on the ground in the grass or catch them in flight by sallying. The diet consists mostly of beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, with occasional consumption of fruit.

Did you know?

Helpers born the previous season assist the mating pair in tending to the nest and nestlings.