Sayaca tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sayaca tanager |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Thraupis
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| Species: |
sayaca
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| Synonyms | |
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Tanagra sayaca Linnaeus, 1766 |
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The Sayaca Tanager (scientific name: Thraupis sayaca) is a beautiful bird found in South America. It belongs to the Thraupidae family, which includes all the different kinds of tanagers. This bird is very common in many parts of Brazil. People there sometimes call it sanhaço.
You can also find the Sayaca Tanager in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. In these countries, they are often called celestinos or celestinas. A few have been seen in southeastern Peru. However, it can be tricky to tell them apart from young blue-grey tanagers.
These birds live in many different places, from open areas to places with some trees. They usually stay away from very thick forests like the Amazon Rainforest. Sayaca Tanagers often visit farms where there are fruit trees. They also do very well in cities! As long as there are some trees and fruit, they can make themselves at home.
They eat a mix of things, including flowers, buds, and insects. This varied diet helps them thrive. In southeastern Brazil, the Sayaca Tanager is one of the most common city birds. It shares this title with the rufous-bellied thrush.
About the Sayaca Tanager's Name
The Sayaca Tanager was first officially described in 1766. This was done by a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus. He gave it the scientific name Tanagra sayaca.
But even before that, in 1648, a German scientist named Georg Marcgrave had written about this bird. He called it the Sayacu. The name "Sayaca" comes from the Tupi language. In Tupi, Saí-acú means "very lively." This name was used for many different tanager birds.
Today, the Sayaca Tanager is part of a group of birds called Thraupis. This group was named by a German scientist, Friedrich Boie, in 1826.
Different Types of Sayaca Tanagers
Just like people can have different family groups, birds can have different types too. These are called subspecies. There are three main subspecies of the Sayaca Tanager:
- T. s. boliviana: This type is found in northern Bolivia.
- T. s. obscura: You can find this one in central and southern Bolivia, stretching into western Argentina.
- T. s. sayaca: This is the most widespread type. It lives in eastern and southern Brazil, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay.
