Tanager

Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is long and weighs , barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is and weighs . The heaviest is the white-capped tanager, which weighs and measures about . 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 the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits. ==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. Most 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 fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. • Chlorospingus – eight species - bush-tanagers • Oreothraupis – tanager finch Cardinalidae – cardinals • Piranga – 9 species - northern tanagers • Habia – five species - ant-tanagers or habias • Chlorothraupis – three species • Amaurospiza – four species Fringillidae – subfamily Euphoniinae • Euphonia – 27 species • Chlorophonia – five species Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan tanagers • Microligea – green-tailed warbler • Xenoligea – white-winged warbler • Phaenicophilus – two species Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid tanagers • Mitrospingus – two species • Orthogonys – olive-green tanager • Lamprospiza – red-billed pied tanager Nesospingidae • Nesospingus – Puerto Rican tanager Spindalidae • Spindalis – four species - spindalises Calyptophilidae • Calyptophilus – two species - chat-tanagers Rhodinocichlidae • Rhodinocichla – rosy thrush-tanager ==References==