Swallow tanager
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Tersina viridis

The swallow tanager (Tersina viridis ) is a species of Neotropic bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Tersina. It is found widely throughout South America, from eastern Panama to far northern Argentina. The species is sexually dimorphic: the female is a yellow-green and the male a turquoise blue with a small deep black face and upper throat patch.

Appearance

The swallow tanager is 14.5–15 cm (5.7–5.9 in) in length with a broad flat bill. This bird is strongly sexually dimorphic. The male is bright turquoise blue with a back face and throat. The turquoise flanks have black barring and the lower belly is white. The female is bright green with dusky-olive barring on the flanks. She lacks the black face mask. They are gregarious but do not associate with other species. They mainly eat fruit but they will also sally after insects from an exposed perch. The swallow tanagers are unique among tanagers in that they will sometimes dig a hole in a bank for a nest.

Swallow tanager habitat map
Swallow tanager
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Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Population

References

1. Swallow tanager Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow_tanager
2. Swallow tanager on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22723018/94799455
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/706537

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