Bay-headed Tanager

Tangara gyrola

humming birds in finca la conchita

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Tangara gyrola
  • Family: Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: Tangara de Cabeza Baya, Tangara cabecicastaña
  • Average Length: 13–14 cm / 5.1–5.5 in
  • Average Weight: 19–24 g / 0.67–0.85 oz
  • Wingspan: 18–22 cm / 7.1–8.7 in
  • Key Feature: Distinctive chestnut-red head contrasting with a bright green body and turquoise-blue underparts
  • Primary Diet: Omnivore (Primarily Frugivore and Insectivore)
  • Range: Central and South America, from Costa Rica and Panama south to the Amazon Basin and Atlantic Forest
  • Habitat: Humid lowland forests, montane forests, and forest edges
  • Social Structure: Social (Found in pairs or mixed-species foraging flocks)
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest built in trees or shrubs
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Population Trend: Decreasing

The Bay-headed Tanager (*Tangara gyrola*) is a small, strikingly vibrant songbird that serves as a living jewel of the Neotropical rainforests across Central and South America. Its most defining characteristic is its namesake chestnut-red or "bay" colored head, which creates a sharp, stunning contrast against its brilliant lime-green wings and a belly that ranges from turquoise to deep azure. Many subspecies also feature a thin, golden-yellow collar that further enhances their ornate appearance. Highly social and energetic, these tanagers are often seen flitting acrobatically through the high canopy in mixed-species flocks, where they forage for fruit and small insects. Their dazzling multi-colored plumage and lively presence make them one of the most sought-after sights for birdwatchers exploring the humid tropical woodlands.

Habitats et répartition

This species occupies a vast geographical range that extends from Costa Rica and Panama southward through Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas into the Amazon Basin, reaching as far as Bolivia and southern Brazil. It is primarily found in humid lowland and foothill forests, typically occurring at elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters, though it can occasionally be found higher in the Andean foothills.

Within these regions, it predominantly inhabits the upper canopy and sub-canopy of primary evergreen forests and mature secondary growth. It also frequently ventures into forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, and agricultural areas such as shaded cocoa or citrus plantations. This adaptability allows it to thrive in both dense, undisturbed woodland and more open, human-modified landscapes where fruiting trees are available.

Comportements & Reproduction

Social and active, these birds are frequently observed foraging in pairs or as part of larger mixed-species flocks within the forest canopy. They exhibit a restless energy, constantly moving through the foliage to glean insects or consume small berries. While they are communal for most of the year, they become more territorial during the breeding season, using high-pitched vocalizations to maintain pair bonds and signal their presence to rivals.

Reproduction is characterized by monogamous pairings, with the female assuming the primary role in nest construction. She builds a small, well-concealed cup nest made of moss and rootlets, typically situated high in a tree or shrub. A standard clutch consists of two creamy-white eggs marked with brown spots, which the female incubates for about 13 to 14 days. After hatching, both parents participate equally in foraging for the young, providing a steady supply of insects and fruit until the fledglings are ready to leave the nest.

Alimentation

The Bay-headed Tanager is primarily a frugivore, centering its diet on a diverse array of small, fleshy fruits and berries, with a particular preference for those from the Melastomataceae family and various fig species. To supplement its fruit-heavy intake, this bird also acts as an opportunistic insectivore, frequently gleaning spiders and small insects from the undersides of leaves and mossy branches. An interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its remarkable agility; it is often observed hanging upside down or performing acrobatic lunges to reach berries on thin, outer twigs that are inaccessible to heavier species. Furthermore, these tanagers are highly social foragers that often lead or join mixed-species flocks, moving systematically through the forest canopy to locate ripening fruit trees, where they play a crucial role in tropical seed dispersal by swallowing small fruits whole.

Couleurs

The Bay-headed Tanager features a distinctive chestnut-red head contrasted against a bright lime-green body. A narrow golden-yellow collar circles the hindneck, while the underparts typically display a vibrant turquoise or cerulean blue wash. Its predominantly green plumage provides effective camouflage within tropical forest canopies, blending seamlessly with sun-dappled foliage despite its striking, multi-colored markings.

Faits amusants

Bay-headed Tanagers are remarkably acrobatic foragers, often seen hanging completely upside down to glean insects from the undersides of leaves or mashing berries against branches to extract their pulp. They frequently serve as "nuclear species" in the rainforest, acting as the social anchors that lead and organize mixed-species feeding flocks through the canopy. Despite their brilliant chestnut heads and neon green bodies, their plumage acts as a form of disruptive coloration, allowing them to disappear almost instantly into the shifting light and shadows of the tropical foliage.