tanager

Tanager is a common name for a diverse group of small to medium-sized passerine birds found mainly in the Americas. Most tanagers belong to the family Thraupidae, a large radiation of Neotropical birds. Many species are known for bright plumage, especially in tropical regions, while some North American forms are more subdued. Sizes range roughly from 9 to 20 centimeters in length.

Taxonomy: Genetic studies have reshaped tanager classification. The core group remains in Thraupidae, but several genera long considered tanagers have been reassigned to other families, such as Cardinalidae. Consequently, the label "tanager" can apply to species with different evolutionary backgrounds.

Distribution and habitat: Tanagers occur from the southern United States through Central and South America. They inhabit forests, edges, scrub, and urban gardens. Many species are migratory or altitudinally variable, moving to follow fruiting trees and insect blooms.

Diet and behavior: Their diet is varied—fruits, seeds, and insects, with some nectar feeding. They typically forage by gleaning foliage, hovering at flowers, or catching insects in flight. Some species form mixed-species foraging flocks, especially outside the breeding season.

Reproduction: Tanagers typically build cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs. Clutch sizes usually range from two to four eggs. Incubation lasts about 12 to 14 days, and the young fledge after roughly two weeks, with both parents often caring for the young.

Conservation: Most tanager species are widespread and common, but several island endemics and highland taxa face habitat loss and fragmentation. Conservation status varies by species, underscoring the need for habitat protection and population monitoring.