Bay-headed Tanager

Overview

The bay-headed tanager (Tangara gyrola) is a medium-sized passerine bird classified as a species of Least Concern. It is a resident breeder across parts of Central and South America, as well as on the island of Trinidad.

Identification

• Length of 14 cm with a weight of approximately 19.5 g.
• Mainly green plumage with a chestnut head, a blue or green belly, and a thin gold collar on the hind neck.
• Sexes are similar in appearance, but immatures are duller with chestnut-flecked green heads.
• Song consists of a slow sequence: seee, seee, seee, tsou, tsooy.

Habitat

This species occurs in forests, particularly in wetter areas. Its range includes Costa Rica, Panama, South America south to Ecuador, Bolivia, and north-western Brazil, as well as Trinidad.

Diet

These social birds eat mainly fruit, which is usually swallowed whole. Insects are also taken, primarily from the underside of branches.

Did you know?

The specific epithet gyrola is a diminutive of the Latin word gyrus, meaning 'ring'.