Blue-and-black tanager
Blue-and-black tanager | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Thraupidae |
Genus: | Tangara |
Species: | T. vassorii
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Binomial name | |
Tangara vassorii (Boissonneau, 1840)
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The blue-and-black tanager (Tangara vassorii) is a
The blue-and-black tanager feeds on fruit and
Taxonomy and systematics
The blue-and-black tanager was first described as Tanagra (Euphone?) vassorii by Auguste Boissonneau in 1840.[1] The generic name Tangara comes from the Tupí word tangara, meaning dancer. The specific name vassorii is in honor of the French collector M. Vassor.[2] Blue-and-black tanager is the official common name designated by the International Ornithologists' Union.[3] Other names for the species include "blue and black tanager" and "blue-black tanager".[4]
The blue-and-black tanager is one of 27 species in the genus
Subspecies
There are three recognized subspecies of the blue-and-black tanager.[3] The subspecies are differentiated mostly by differences in plumage.[5]
- T. v. vassorii (.
- T. v. branickii (Taczanowski, 1882): Found from central Peru to Bolivia. It is similar to the nominate, but has a dull bluish green top and side of head, tinged with gray.[5]
- T. v. atrocoerulea (Tschudi, 1844): Also known as the spot-bellied tanager, it is found from the Andes of northern Peru to southern Amazonas and La Libertad. It can be distinguished by its lighter shade of blue, a yellowish, sometimes white, spot on the nape, and black streaking along its breast. It is considered to be a separate species by some authorities.[5][6]
Description
The blue-and-black tanager is an average-sized species for its genus, with an mean length of 13 cm (5.1 in) and mass of 18 g (0.63 oz). It shows slight
The blue-and black tanager may be confused with the masked flowerpiercer, but can be distinguished its brown eye, more extensive black on the wing, and shorter and thicker bill. Populations of the subspecies atrocoerulea may also be confused with the golden-naped tanager, but can be distinguished by their blacker back and lack of cinnamon underparts.[5]
Vocalizations
The blue-and-black tanager's calls include a thin, high-pitched tsit, a slightly lower swit, a repeated swit-swit-swit, and a hard SWIT-it. The song is 2–3 second long series of rhythmic, high-pitched notes that begin slow and then speed up into a zieeu-zie-zie-zizizizee trill, given every 15 seconds.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The blue-and-black tanager is found in Bolivia, Colombia,
Behavior and ecology
The blue-and-black tanager joins large mixed-species flocks while foraging, most often in pairs or groups of 3–6 individuals. Mixed-species flocks can contain up 15 blue-and-black tanagers, and they have been reported as being the nuclear species (species that helps form and maintain a mixed-species flock) in Colombia. It is found more often with Iridosornis or Anisognathus species than other Tangara.[5]
Diet
The blue-and-black tanager feeds on fruit and
Breeding
The blue-and-black tanager breeds from February to August. It makes
Status
The blue-and-black tanager is listed as being of
References
- ^ Société Cuvierienne; Cuvierienne, Société (1840). Revue zoologique. Paris: Société cuvierienne.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-3326-2.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela (eds.). "Tanagers and allies". IOC World Bird List. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ "Tangara vassorii (Blue-and-black Tanager)". Avibase. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ .
- ^ . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ . Retrieved 15 November 2021.