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Blue-browed tanager facts for kids

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Blue-browed tanager
Tangara cyanotis - Blue-browed Tanager (cropped).jpg
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Tangara cyanotis map.svg

The blue-browed tanager (scientific name: Tangara cyanotis) is a beautiful bird. It belongs to a family of birds called Thraupidae, which are often known for their bright colors.

You can find this bird living in parts of South America. It makes its home in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. These birds prefer to live in moist montane forests, which are forests found in mountainous areas.

Blue-browed Tanager: A Colorful Bird

The blue-browed tanager is a small, vibrant bird. It gets its name from the bright blue markings above its eyes, which look like eyebrows. These birds are known for their striking plumage, which means their feathers are very colorful.

They live in the high, wet forests of the Andes Mountains. This type of habitat provides them with plenty of food. They often eat fruits, insects, and nectar from flowers.

What's in a Name?

Scientists gave the blue-browed tanager its first official description in 1858. A scientist named Philip Sclater named it Calliste cyanotis back then.

The word Tangara comes from an old Tupí language word. It means "dancer," which might describe how these birds move. The second part of its scientific name, cyanotis, comes from Ancient Greek words. "Kyanos" means dark blue, and "otis" means eared. This name perfectly describes the bird's blue "eyebrows."

The official common name, blue-browed tanager, was chosen by the International Ornithologists' Union. This helps everyone around the world know which bird is being talked about.

Different Kinds of Blue-browed Tanagers

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the blue-browed tanager. These types look a little different from each other, mainly in their feather colors.

  • T. c. lutleyi: This type is found from southern Colombia down to Ecuador and Peru. It has a black back and black feathers covering its ears.
  • T. c. cyanotis: This is the original type that was first described. You can find it in Bolivia and southeastern Peru.
Tangara cyanotis melanotis & Tangara cyanotis cyanotis 1876
A drawing showing two types of blue-browed tanagers.
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