White-shouldered tanager facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-shouldered tanager |
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| Male Loriotus luctuosus panamensis, Anton Valley, Panama | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Loriotus
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| Species: |
luctuosus
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The white-shouldered tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) is a cool, medium-sized bird that loves to live in warm places. It's a type of passerine bird, which means it belongs to a large group of birds often called "perching birds."
These birds live all year round in areas from Honduras down to Panama. You can also find them further south in South America, reaching Ecuador and southern Brazil, and even on the island of Trinidad.
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About the White-shouldered Tanager
White-shouldered tanagers are fairly small birds. They are about 14 cm (5.5 inches) long. They weigh around 14 g, which is about the same as two quarters! These birds have a long tail and a strong, pointed black beak.
What They Look Like
The adult male white-shouldered tanager is mostly shiny black. But it has a special feature: a bright white patch on its shoulder. This white patch is easy to see and helps tell it apart from other birds. When it flies, you can also see white feathers under its wings.
Females and younger birds look a bit different. They have olive-green feathers on their backs and yellow feathers on their bellies. Their head and neck are usually grey.
Where They Live
These tanagers like to live in forests. They also enjoy hanging out in cocoa plantations, which are farms where cocoa beans grow. These places offer plenty of trees and plants for them to find food and build nests.
Family Life and Nesting
When it's time to build a home, the white-shouldered tanager builds a cup-shaped nest. They usually place these nests in low plants or bushes. The female bird lays about three eggs. These eggs are a creamy color with brown spots.
What They Eat
White-shouldered tanagers are very active birds. They mostly eat insects. They especially like to munch on stick insects. Sometimes, they will also eat fruit as a snack.
These birds often join up with other birds that eat insects. They form groups that travel around together looking for food. This way, they can find more food and stay safer.
Their Song
The white-shouldered tanager has a distinctive song. It's a fast and repeated sound that sounds like "tchirrup." It's one way they communicate with each other in the forest.
