Tanager

For the Italian river known in Latin as Tanager, see Tanagro.

For other uses, see Tanager (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Tangier.

Tanagers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Superfamily:	Emberizoidea
Family:	Thraupidae Cabanis, 1847
Type genus
Thraupis Boie, F., 1826
Genera
Many: see text

The tanagers (singular /ˈtænədʒər/) comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.

Traditionally, the family contained around 240 species of mostly brightly colored fruit-eating birds. As more of these birds were studied using modern molecular techniques, it became apparent that the traditional families were not monophyletic. Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of the Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (Euphoniinae). Likewise, the genera Piranga (which includes the scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and western tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the family Cardinalidae, and have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.

Description

Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is 9 cm (4 in) long and weighs 6 g (0.2 oz), barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 g (2.7 oz). The heaviest is the white-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, and some dull brownish or greenish-gray. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill is linked to the species' foraging habits, with short-, stout-billed seed-eating species, longer-billed fruit-eating species, and slender-billed nectar-feeding species; most also eat insects when available.

Distribution

Tanagers are restricted to the Western Hemisphere and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in the Andes. Many species are endemic to a relatively small area.

Behavior

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 dull songs, though some are elaborate.

Diet

Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eating fruit, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in 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.

Breeding

The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South 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 build cup nests on branches in trees. Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of tree in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in areas with dense vegetation. For some species no information is yet known about the nests.

The clutch size is three to five eggs. 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 have helpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.

Taxonomy

The family Thraupidae was introduced (as the subfamily Thraupinae) in 1847 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The type genus is Thraupis.

The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as the New 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. This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies. Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series of molecular 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.

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 distributed scarlet tanager and western tanager, which are both now placed in Cardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.

A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were not monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.

As of March 2025 the family contains 393 species which are divided into 15 subfamilies and 105 genera. For a complete list, see the article List of tanager species.

List of genera

Catamblyrhynchinae

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.

Image	Genus	Species
	Catamblyrhynchus Lafresnaye, 1842	Plushcap – Catamblyrhynchus diadema

Charitospizinae

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.

Image	Genus	Species
	Charitospiza Oberholser, 1905	Coal-crested finch – Charitospiza eucosma

Orchesticinae

Two species with large thick bills. Parkerthraustes was formerly placed in Cardinalidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Orchesticus Cabanis, 1851	Brown tanager – Orchesticus abeillei
	Parkerthraustes Remsen, 1997	Yellow-shouldered grosbeak, Parkerthraustes humeralis

Nemosiinae

Brightly colored, sexually dichromatic birds. Most form single-species flocks.

Image	Genus	Species
	Nemosia Vieillot, 1816	Hooded tanager, Nemosia pileata Cherry-throated tanager, Nemosia rourei
	Cyanicterus Bonaparte, 1850	Blue-backed tanager – Cyanicterus cyanicterus
	Sericossypha Lesson, 1844	White-capped tanager – Sericossypha albocristata
	Compsothraupis Richmond, 1915	Scarlet-throated tanager – Compsothraupis loricata

Emberizoidinae

Grassland dwelling birds that were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Coryphaspiza G.R. Gray, 1840	Black-masked finch – Coryphaspiza melanotis
	Embernagra Lesson, 1831	Serra finch – Embernagra longicauda Pampa finch – Embernagra platensis
	Emberizoides Temminck, 1822	Wedge-tailed grass finch – Emberizoides herbicola Duida grass finch – Emberizoides duidae Lesser grass finch – Emberizoides ypiranganus

Porphyrospizinae

Yellow billed birds. The blue finch (Rhopospina caerulescens) was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Incaspiza Ridgway, 1898	Great Inca finch – Incaspiza pulchra Rufous-backed Inca finch – Incaspiza personata Grey-winged Inca finch – Incaspiza ortizi Buff-bridled Inca finch – Incaspiza laeta Little Inca finch – Incaspiza watkinsi
	Rhopospina Cabanis, 1851	Mourning sierra finch – Rhopospina fruticeti Blue finch – Rhopospina caerulescens Band-tailed sierra finch – Rhopospina alaudina Carbonated sierra finch – Rhopospina carbonaria

Hemithraupinae

These species are sexually dichromatic and many have yellow and black plumage. Except for Heterospingus, they have slender bills.

Image	Genus	Species
	Chlorophanes Reichenbach, 1853	Green honeycreeper – Chlorophanes spiza
	Iridophanes Ridgway, 1901	Golden-collared honeycreeper – Iridophanes pulcherrimus
	Chrysothlypis Berlepsch, 1912	Black-and-yellow tanager – Chrysothlypis chrysomelas Scarlet-and-white tanager – Chrysothlypis salmoni
	Heterospingus Ridgway, 1898	Sulphur-rumped tanager – Heterospingus rubrifrons Scarlet-browed tanager – Heterospingus xanthopygius
	Hemithraupis Cabanis, 1850	Guira tanager – Hemithraupis guira Rufous-headed tanager – Hemithraupis ruficapilla Yellow-backed tanager – Hemithraupis flavicollis

Dacninae

Sexually dichromatic species—males have blue plumage and females are green.

Image	Genus	Species
	Tersina Vieillot, 1819	Swallow tanager – Tersina viridis
	Cyanerpes Oberholser, 1899	Short-billed honeycreeper – Cyanerpes nitidus Shining honeycreeper – Cyanerpes lucidus Purple honeycreeper – Cyanerpes caeruleus Red-legged honeycreeper – Cyanerpes cyaneus
	Dacnis Cuvier, 1816	Scarlet-breasted dacnis – Dacnis berlepschi Scarlet-thighed dacnis – Dacnis venusta Blue dacnis – Dacnis cayana Yellow-bellied dacnis – Dacnis flaviventer Turquoise dacnis – Dacnis hartlaubi Black-faced dacnis – Dacnis lineata Yellow-tufted dacnis – Dacnis egregia Viridian dacnis – Dacnis viguieri Black-legged dacnis – Dacnis nigripes White-bellied dacnis – Dacnis albiventris

Saltatorinae

Mainly arboreal with long tails and thick bills. Formerly placed in Cardinalidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Saltatricula Burmeister, 1861	Many-colored Chaco finch – Saltatricula multicolor Black-throated saltator – Saltatricula atricollis
	Saltator Vieillot, 1816	Orinoco saltator – Saltator orenocensis Green-winged saltator – Saltator similis Bluish-grey saltator or Amazonian grey saltator – Saltator coerulescens Cinnamon-bellied saltator or northern grey saltator – Saltator grandis Olive-grey saltator or Caribbean grey saltator – Saltator olivascens Streaked saltator – Saltator striatipectus Lesser Antillean saltator – Saltator albicollis Buff-throated saltator – Saltator maximus Black-winged saltator – Saltator atripennis Black-headed saltator – Saltator atriceps Black-cowled saltator – Saltator nigriceps Black-throated grosbeak – Saltator fuliginosus Slate-coloured grosbeak – Saltator grossus Masked saltator – Saltator cinctus Thick-billed saltator – Saltator maxillosus Golden-billed saltator – Saltator aurantiirostris

Coerebinae

Diversity of Darwin's finches

This subfamily includes Darwin's finches, of which all but the Cocos finch are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Most Coerebinae species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed in Parulidae 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).

Image	Genus	Species
	Coereba Vieillot, 1809	Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola
	Tiaris Swainson, 1827	Yellow-faced grassquit – Tiaris olivaceus
	Euneornis Fitzinger, 1856	Orangequit – Euneornis campestris
	Melopyrrha Bonaparte, 1853	Puerto Rican bullfinch – Melopyrrha portoricensis (formerly placed in Loxigilla) †St. Kitts bullfinch – Melopyrrha grandis Greater Antillean bullfinch – Melopyrrha violacea (formerly placed in Loxigilla) Cuban bullfinch – Melopyrrha nigra Grand Cayman bullfinch – Melopyrrha taylori
	Loxipasser Bryant, 1866	Yellow-shouldered grassquit – Loxipasser anoxanthus
	Phonipara Bonaparte, 1850	Cuban grassquit – Phonipara canora
	Loxigilla Lesson, 1831	Lesser Antillean bullfinch – Loxigilla noctis Barbados bullfinch – Loxigilla barbadensis
	Melanospiza Ridgway, 1897	Saint Lucia black finch – Melanospiza richardsoni Black-faced grassquit – Melanospiza bicolor
	Asemospiza Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016	Sooty grassquit – Asemospiza fuliginosa Dull-coloured grassquit – Asemospiza obscura
Darwin's finches:
	Certhidea Gould, 1837	Green warbler-finch – Certhidea olivacea Grey warbler-finch – Certhidea fusca
	Platyspiza Ridgway, 1897	Vegetarian finch – Platyspiza crassirostris
	Pinaroloxias Sharpe, 1885	Cocos finch – Pinaroloxias inornata
	Camarhynchus Gould, 1837	Small tree finch – Camarhynchus parvulus Medium tree finch – Camarhynchus pauper Large tree finch – Camarhynchus psittacula Woodpecker finch – Camarhynchus pallidus Mangrove finch – Camarhynchus heliobates
	Geospiza Gould, 1837	Española cactus finch – Geospiza conirostris Sharp-beaked ground finch – Geospiza difficilis Vampire ground finch – Geospiza septentrionalis Genovesa ground finch – Geospiza acutirostris Medium ground finch – Geospiza fortis Small ground finch – Geospiza fuliginosa Large ground finch – Geospiza magnirostris Common cactus finch – Geospiza scandens Genovesa cactus finch – Geospiza propinqua

Tachyphoninae

Most of these are lowland species. Many have ornamental features such as crests, and many have sexually dichromatic plumage.

Image	Genus	Species
	Volatinia Reichenbach, 1850	Blue-black grassquit – Volatinia jacarina
	Conothraupis Sclater, PL, 1880	Black-and-white tanager – Conothraupis speculigera Cone-billed tanager – Conothraupis mesoleuca
	Creurgops Sclater, PL, 1858	Rufous-crested tanager – Creurgops verticalis Slaty tanager – Creurgops dentatus
	Eucometis Sclater, PL, 1856	Grey-headed tanager – Eucometis penicillata
	Trichothraupis Cabanis, 1851	Black-goggled tanager – Trichothraupis melanops
	Heliothraupis Lane et al., 2021	Inti tanager – Heliothraupis oneilli
	Loriotus Jarocki, 1821	Flame-crested tanager – Loriotus cristatus Yellow-crested tanager – Loriotus rufiventer White-shouldered tanager – Loriotus luctuosus
	Coryphospingus Cabanis, 1851	Grey pileated finch – Coryphospingus pileatus Red pileated finch – Coryphospingus cucullatus
	Tachyphonus Vieillot, 1816	Fulvous-crested tanager – Tachyphonus surinamus Tawny-crested tanager – Tachyphonus delatrii Ruby-crowned tanager – Tachyphonus coronatus White-lined tanager – Tachyphonus rufus Red-shouldered tanager – Tachyphonus phoenicius
	Rhodospingus Sharpe, 1888	Crimson-breasted finch – Rhodospingus cruentus
	Lanio Vieillot, 1816	Fulvous shrike-tanager – Lanio fulvus White-winged shrike-tanager – Lanio versicolor Black-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio aurantius White-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio leucothorax
	Ramphocelus Desmarest, 1805	Crimson-collared tanager – Ramphocelus sanguinolentus Masked crimson tanager – Ramphocelus nigrogularis Crimson-backed tanager – Ramphocelus dimidiatus Huallaga tanager – Ramphocelus melanogaster Silver-beaked tanager – Ramphocelus carbo Brazilian tanager – Ramphocelus bresilius Passerini's tanager – Ramphocelus passerinii Cherrie's tanager – Ramphocelus costaricensis Flame-rumped tanager – Ramphocelus flammigerus Lemon-rumped tanager – R. f. icteronotus

Sporophilinae

These species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Sporophila Cabanis, 1844	Seedeaters and seed finches (includes species previously assigned to Dolospingus and Oryzoborus) 41 species: Lesson's seedeater – Sporophila bouvronides Lined seedeater – Sporophila lineola Cinnamon-rumped seedeater – Sporophila torqueola Morelet's seedeater – Sporophila morelleti Variable seedeater – Sporophila corvina Grey seedeater – Sporophila intermedia Wing-barred seedeater – Sporophila americana White-naped seedeater – Sporophila fringilloides Black-and-white seedeater – Sporophila luctuosa Double-collared seedeater – Sporophila caerulescens Yellow-bellied seedeater – Sporophila nigricollis Dubois's seedeater – Sporophila ardesiaca Thick-billed seed finch – Sporophila funerea Chestnut-bellied seed finch – Sporophila angolensis Nicaraguan seed finch – Sporophila nuttingi Great-billed seed finch – Sporophila maximiliani Large-billed seed finch – Sporophila crassirostris Black-billed seed finch – Sporophila atrirostris Slate-coloured seedeater – Sporophila schistacea Temminck's seedeater – Sporophila falcirostris Buffy-fronted seedeater – Sporophila frontalis Plumbeous seedeater – Sporophila plumbea Tropeiro seedeater – Sporophila beltoni Rusty-collared seedeater – Sporophila collaris White-throated seedeater – Sporophila albogularis White-bellied seedeater – Sporophila leucoptera Parrot-billed seedeater – Sporophila peruviana Chestnut-throated seedeater, Sporophila telasco Drab seedeater – Sporophila simplex Chestnut-bellied seedeater – Sporophila castaneiventris Ruddy-breasted seedeater – Sporophila minuta Copper seedeater – Sporophila bouvreuil Black-and-tawny seedeater – Sporophila nigrorufa Tawny-bellied seedeater – Sporophila hypoxantha Dark-throated seedeater – Sporophila ruficollis Pearly-bellied seedeater – Sporophila pileata Rufous-rumped seedeater – Sporophila hypochroma Chestnut seedeater – Sporophila cinnamomea Marsh seedeater – Sporophila palustris Black-bellied seedeater – Sporophila melanogaster Ibera seedeater – Sporophila iberaensis

Poospizinae

Some of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Piezorina Lafresnaye, 1843	Cinereous finch – Piezorina cinerea
	Xenospingus Cabanis, 1867	Slender-billed finch – Xenospingus concolor
	Cnemoscopus Bangs & Penard, 1919	Grey-hooded bush tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris
	Pseudospingus Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896	Drab hemispingus – Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus Black-headed hemispingus – Pseudospingus verticalis
	Poospiza Cabanis, 1847	Bolivian warbling finch – Poospiza boliviana Cinnamon warbling finch – Poospiza ornata Black-and-rufous warbling finch – Poospiza nigrorufa Black-and-chestnut warbling finch – Poospiza whitii Collared warbling finch – Poospiza hispaniolensis Rufous-breasted warbling finch – Poospiza rubecula Tucumán mountain finch – Poospiza baeri Cochabamba mountain finch – Poospiza garleppi Slaty-backed hemispingus – Poospiza goeringi Rufous-browed hemispingus – Poospiza rufosuperciliaris
	Kleinothraupis Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016	Grey-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis reyi Black-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis atropileus White-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis auricularis Orange-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis calophrys Parodi's hemispingus – Kleinothraupis parodii
	Sphenopsis Sclater, 1862	Oleaginous hemispingus – Sphenopsis frontalis