Thetanagers (singular/ˈtænədʒər/) comprise the birdfamilyThraupidae, in the orderPasseriformes. The family has aNeotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of theNeotropical birds.[1]
Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, thewhite-eared conebill, is 9 cm (4 in) long and weighs 6 g (0.2 oz), barely smaller than theshort-billed honeycreeper. The longest, themagpie tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 g (2.7 oz). The heaviest is thewhite-capped tanager, which weighs 114 g (4.02 oz) and measures about 24 cm (9.4 in). Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.
Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of thebill seems to be linked to the species'foraging habits.
Tanagers are restricted to theWestern Hemisphere and mainly to thetropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in theAndes. Most species areendemic to a relatively small area.
Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. These birds may also be seen in single-species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dullsongs, though some are elaborate.[citation needed]
Tanagers areomnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eatingfruits,seeds,nectar, flower parts, andinsects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in the wood. Other species look for insects on the undersides of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.
The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October inSouth America. Some species are territorial, while others build their nests closer together. Little information is available on tanager breeding behavior. Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.
Most tanagers buildcup nests on branches in trees. Somenests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of the tree in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. No information is yet known regarding the nests of some species.
Theclutch size is three to fiveeggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young. Five species havehelpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.
The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as theNew World, nine-primaried oscines. The traditional pre-molecular classification was largely based on the different feeding specializations. Nectar-feeders were placed in Coerebidae (honeycreepers), large-billed seed-eaters in Cardinalidae (cardinals and grosbeaks), smaller-billed seed-eaters in Emberizidae (New World finches and sparrows), ground-foraging insect-eaters in Icteridae (blackbirds) and fruit-eaters in Thraupidae.[1] This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies.[7] Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series ofmolecular phylogenetic studies led to a complete reorganization of the traditional families. Thraupidae now includes large-billed seed eaters, thin-billed nectar feeders, and foliage gleaners as well as fruit-eaters.[1]
One consequence of redefining the family boundaries is that for many species their common names are no longer congruent with the families in which they are placed. As of July 2020 there are 39 species with "tanager" in the common name that are not placed in Thraupidae. These include the widely distributedscarlet tanager andwestern tanager, which are both now placed inCardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.[8]
Amolecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were notmonophyletic.[1] In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.[9][8]
As of July 2023 the family contains 386 species which are divided into 15subfamilies and 105 genera.[1][8] For a complete list, see the articleList of tanager species.
The plushcap has no close relatives and is now placed in its own subfamily. It was previously placed either in the subfamily Catamblyrhynchinae within the Emberizidae or in its own family Catamblyrhynchidae.[1]
The coal-crested finch is endemic to the grasslands of Brazil and has no close relatives. It is unusual in that both sexes have a crest. It was formerly placed in Emberizidae.
Yellow billed birds. Theblue finch (Rhopospina caerulescens) was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
This subfamily includes Darwin's finches that are endemic to theGalápagos Islands andCocos Island. Most of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed inParulidae and the orangequit that was placed in Thraupidae. These species build domed or covered nests with side entrances. They have evolved a variety of foraging techniques, including nectar-feeding (Coereba,Euneornis), seed-eating (Geospiza,Loxigilla,Tiaris), and insect gleaning (Certhidea).[1]
This is a morphologically diverse group that includes seed-eaters (Nesospiza,Sicalis,Catamenia,Haplospiza), arthropod feeders (Conirostrum), a bamboo specialist (Acanthidops), an aphid feeder (Xenodacnis), and boulder field specialists (Idiopsar). Many species live at high altitudes.Conirostrum was previously placed in Parulidae,Diglossa was placed in Thraupidae, and the remaining genera were placed in Emberizidae.[1]
^Storer, Robert W. (1970)."Subfamily Thraupinae". In Paynter, Raymond A. Jr (ed.).Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 13. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 246–408.
^Burns, K.J.; Unitt, P.; Mason, N.A. (2016). "A genus-level classification of the family Thraupidae (Class Aves: Order Passeriformes)".Zootaxa.4088 (3):329–354.doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4088.3.2.PMID27394344.
^Burns, K.J.; Hackett, S.J.; Klein, N.K. (2003). "Phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical honeycreepers and the evolution of feeding morphology".Journal of Avian Biology.34 (4):360–370.doi:10.1111/j.0908-8857.2003.03171.x.