Green-winged saltator facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green-winged saltator |
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| Individual with abnormal white (leucism) on its back | |
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Saltator
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| Species: |
similis
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The green-winged saltator (Saltator similis) is a type of bird in the Thraupidae family. You can find it in South American countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It also lives in parts of the southern cerrado (a type of savanna) and the pantanal (a large wetland).
These birds usually live in warm, wet forests close to the ground. They can also be found in areas that used to be forests but have changed a lot.
Contents
What Does the Green-winged Saltator Look Like?
This bird is a bit smaller than other saltators. It has a strong, black beak, which is why these birds are sometimes called "iron cracks." This name comes from how powerful their beaks are!
The green-winged saltator has a green back, a gray tail, and gray sides on its head. It has a long white stripe above its eye, like an eyebrow. Its throat is all white. The sides of its belly are gray, turning orange-brown and white in the middle. Its wings are greenish.
Young birds, called juveniles, do not have such a long stripe above their eye. Sometimes, this stripe is very faint or missing when they first leave the nest. Some young birds might also have stripes on their undersides.
Male and female green-winged saltators look very similar. You can't tell them apart just by looking at their bodies. Their songs can sound a little different depending on the region, but the overall sound is the same.
Types of Green-winged Saltators
Scientists have found two main types, or subspecies, of the green-winged saltator:
- Saltator similis similis (Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837) - This type lives from eastern Bolivia to the state of Bahia in Brazil. It also lives south to Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina.
- Saltator similis ochraceiventris (Berlepsch, 1912) - This type is found in southeastern Brazil. It lives from the south of the state of São Paulo down to Rio Grande do Sul.
Behavior
What Do Green-winged Saltators Eat?
The green-winged saltator is an omnivore, which means it eats both plants and animals. It enjoys eating fruits, insects, seeds, leaves, and flowers, like those from the Ypê tree. They especially like the fruits of the tapiá or tanheiro plant (Alchornea glandulosa). The male bird often brings food to the female.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Green-winged saltators build their nests in bushes, usually about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) off the ground. The nest is shaped like a spacious bowl, about 12 centimeters (5 inches) wide. It's made from large dry leaves held together by branches, making it a bit loose. Inside, they add small roots and herbs.
The female usually lays 2 or 3 eggs. The eggs are long, about 29 by 18 millimeters (1.1 by 0.7 inches). They are light blue or blue-green. They have small and large spots on the wider end, which often form a crown-like pattern. During the time they are raising their young, these birds live strictly in pairs. They are very loyal to their home territory.
Green-winged Saltators and People
In Brazil, people really like the green-winged saltator because of its beautiful singing. Different kinds of songs are even given special names, like "Boi" and "João."
Because of their lovely songs, some people try to catch these birds illegally to keep them as pets. This often happens in areas near cities, especially in the Atlantic Forest. Organizations like IBAMA work hard to stop this illegal capture. Their efforts helped reduce the number of illegally caught birds between 2000 and 2014. It's important to protect these birds so they can live freely in nature.
Where Do Green-winged Saltators Live?
Green-winged saltators live on the edges of forests and in clearings. They are always found near forests, usually in the middle and upper parts of the trees. They are spread across central and northeastern Brazil, down to the south of the country in Rio Grande do Sul, and throughout the Southeast region. You can also find them in neighboring countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
