Scarlet-throated tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet-throated tanager |
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Tanagra loricata (protonym) |
The scarlet-throated tanager (Compsothraupis loricata) is a beautiful songbird that belongs to the tanager family. This bird is special because it lives only in eastern Brazil. It's the only type of bird in its group, called Compsothraupis.
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Meet the Scarlet-Throated Tanager
The scarlet-throated tanager is one of the biggest tanagers around! It grows to about 21 centimeters (8 inches) long and weighs about 72.5 grams. That's like the weight of a small apple!
What Do They Look Like?
It's easy to tell the boys and girls apart.
- Girl tanagers are completely black.
- Boy tanagers are also black, but they have a bright red throat. This red patch makes them look very striking!
Where Do They Live?
These birds are found only in northeastern Brazil. They especially love areas with a type of dry forest called Caatinga. You'll often find them near water, living at heights between 200 and 1000 meters (about 650 to 3300 feet) above sea level.
How Do They Behave?
Scarlet-throated tanagers are usually seen in pairs or in small groups of up to eight birds. They like to perch high up on tree branches. They move slowly and calmly.
During the time of year when they are ready to have babies, the boy tanagers like to show off. They fluff up the feathers on their backs to reveal white parts underneath. This display helps them attract a mate.
Nesting and Reproduction
When it's time to build a nest, these clever birds choose a very secret spot. They often hide their nests deep inside thick plants. Sometimes, they even use old holes that woodpeckers have left in trees. This keeps their eggs and chicks safe from danger.
Bird Names and History
The scarlet-throated tanager got its official name in 1819 from a German scientist named Hinrich Lichtenstein. He named it Tanagra loricata.
Later, in 1915, an American bird expert named Charles Wallace Richmond decided this bird was unique enough to have its own group. He created the name Compsothraupis for it.
What Do the Names Mean?
- The first part of the group name, kompsos, comes from an old Greek word meaning "pretty."
- The second part, thraupis, is a Greek word for a small bird. In bird science, it's used for tanagers. So, Compsothraupis means "pretty tanager"!
- The second part of its scientific name, loricata, comes from a Latin word meaning "clothed in mail" or "breast-plated." This probably refers to the male's bright red throat, which looks a bit like a colorful chest plate.
This bird is considered "monotypic," which means there are no different types or subspecies of the scarlet-throated tanager. They are all the same!
