White-rumped tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-rumped tanager |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Cypsnagra
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| Species: |
hirundinacea
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The white-rumped tanager (Cypsnagra hirundinacea) is a small bird from South America. It belongs to the tanager family, called Thraupidae. This bird is special because it's the only species in its group, known as the Cypsnagra genus.
These birds are about 16 cm long. They weigh between 25 and 34 grams, which is about the same as a few coins. You can find them mostly in Brazil. They also live in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Suriname. They prefer to live in grasslands that have a few trees.
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Where White-rumped Tanagers Live
White-rumped tanagers live in parts of South America. They are found in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Suriname. These birds usually live in areas that are 700 to 1000 meters above sea level. This means they live in places that are quite high up.
Their favorite homes are grasslands. These are open areas with lots of grass and only a few trees scattered around. In Brazil, they often live in small groups. These groups usually have three to six birds together.
What White-rumped Tanagers Eat
White-rumped tanagers mainly eat insects. They find their food in a few different ways. Sometimes, they look for insects on the ground in the grass. Other times, they catch insects while flying. This is called "sallying" or "hawking." It means they fly out from a perch, grab an insect in the air, and then return to their perch.
Their diet mostly includes beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers. These are common insects found in their grassland homes. Even though they love insects, they sometimes eat fruit too. This gives them a varied diet.
White-rumped Tanager Nests and Eggs
White-rumped tanagers build their nests in a special way. Their nests are shaped like a cup. They make them from woven grasses, which makes them strong and cozy. These nests are usually placed low to the ground, only about 1 to 2 meters high.
When it's time to lay eggs, the female bird lays 3 to 4 blue eggs. These eggs have small brown or black spots. The spots are usually found around the wider end of the egg. What's really interesting is that older siblings often help out. Young birds born the year before will help their parents take care of the new nest and baby birds. This is called "cooperative breeding."
Understanding the White-rumped Tanager's Name
The scientific name for the white-rumped tanager is Cypsnagra hirundinacea. The word Cypsnagra comes from two older words. One is an Ancient Greek word, kupselos, which means "swallow." The other part comes from the bird group name Tanagra. So, Cypsnagra means something like "swallow-tanager."
The second part of the name, hirundinacea, comes from Modern Latin. It means "swallow-like." So, the full scientific name tells us that this bird is a tanager that looks or acts a bit like a swallow.
Types of White-rumped Tanagers
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the white-rumped tanager. These are slightly different versions of the same bird.
- C. h. pallidigula: This type is found in Suriname, French Guiana, and parts of Bolivia and central Brazil.
- C. h. hirundinacea: This type lives in eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil.
