Black-and-yellow tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-and-yellow tanager |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chrysothlypis
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| Species: |
chrysomelas
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| Synonyms | |
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Tachyphonus chrysomelas (protonym) |
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The black-and-yellow tanager (Chrysothlypis chrysomelas) is a small, colorful passerine bird. This type of tanager lives in the hills of Costa Rica and Panama.
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What is a Black-and-Yellow Tanager?
This bird is quite small, about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long. That's about the length of a pen! It weighs around 12.5 grams (0.44 oz), which is super light, like a few coins.
How to Spot a Male Tanager
Adult male black-and-yellow tanagers are easy to spot because they have bright colors.
- Their head, back, and belly are a sunny yellow.
- Their back, wings, and tail are a deep black.
- The feathers under their wings are white.
In some areas, like eastern Panama, the male might have a small black spot near its eyes.
How to Spot a Female Tanager
Female black-and-yellow tanagers look a bit different from the males.
- Their upper parts (like their back) are a duller olive color.
- Their underparts (like their belly) are yellow.
- In Costa Rica, their throat and lower belly can be whitish.
Sometimes, a female black-and-yellow tanager can be mistaken for a warbler or a female yellow-backed tanager. Young tanagers look a lot like the adult females.
What Does it Sound Like?
The black-and-yellow tanager has a unique call. It sounds like a scratchy "tsew" sound. They might say it once or repeat it quickly. It's higher and faster than the call of a silver-throated tanager.
Where Do These Birds Live?
The black-and-yellow tanager lives in Central America.
- In Costa Rica, you can find them in the foothills and slopes on the Caribbean side of the central mountains. They usually live at altitudes from 600 to 1,200 metres (2,000 to 3,900 ft) high. Sometimes, they might be seen as low as 400 metres (1,300 ft).
- In Panama, they live on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides, usually from 450 to 1,200 metres (1,480 to 3,940 ft) high. They have even been seen near the border with Colombia.
These birds love to live in the tops of wet forests. They also like areas where forests are growing back after being cut down. You might see them feeding lower down at the edges of woodlands or in clearings.
How Do They Behave?
Black-and-yellow tanagers often hang out in small groups. They also like to join larger groups of different bird species that are feeding together. This is called a mixed-species feeding flock.
What Do They Eat?
These tanagers enjoy a varied diet.
Nesting Habits
Black-and-yellow tanagers build a neat, cup-shaped nest. They usually place their nests on a tree branch. Scientists don't have much information about their eggs yet.
