Brown Tanager

Overview

The brown tanager (Orchesticus abeillei) is a Near Threatened bird species in the family Thraupidae, endemic to southeastern Brazil. It is the only member of its genus and is classified as uncommon to rare within its limited range.

Identification

• Length of 17 to 18 cm with cinnamon-buff underparts and medium brown upperparts.
• Thick blackish bill, horn-colored legs, and dark red irises.
• Thin blackish line running through the eye on a cinnamon face, with cinnamon-rufous upperwing coverts.
• Dawn song characterised as an extremely high-pitched 'sis-sis-sis-sis'sis'sssssssssssssst' and a high twittering call.

Habitat

Found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, ranging from southern Bahia to eastern Paraná and Santa Catarina. It primarily inhabits humid primary forest between 750 and 1,500 m in elevation, but also occurs in secondary forest, open woodlands, and gardens with tall trees.

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects with small amounts of fruit. It forages in pairs and small groups in the canopy, picking and probing in live and dead foliage, mosses, and bromeliads, and occasionally taking prey in mid-air. It often joins mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Because it strongly resembles the buff-fronted foliage-gleaner with which it shares a range, some authors suggest it is an example of social mimicry. Its breeding displays involve the male and female facing each other motionless and upright with wings drooping and tails spread.