Shrike-like Tanager

Overview

The shrike-like tanager, also known as the white-banded tanager, is a South American bird and the sole member of the genus Neothraupis. It is a monotypic species classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Total length of approximately 16 cm and a weight of 29–32 g.
• Plumage is remarkably similar to that of shrikes in the genus Lanius.
• Males and females are visually indistinguishable.

Habitat

Native to the interior of south-central South America at elevations of 550–1,100 m, it inhabits Cerrado, woodland, and shrub in central-eastern Brazil, north-eastern Paraguay, and north-eastern Bolivia. It is frequently observed in Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Diet

The species eats insects. It is typically seen in pairs or small groups, with an average group size of seven individuals.

Did you know?

The brownish plumage sometimes mistakenly identified as that of the adult female is actually possessed by birds from earlier broods that assist the breeding pair.