Golden Tanager
A Goldtangare
The Goldtangare ( Tangara arthus ), is a native to South America species of bird in the family of tanagers ( Thraupidae ). She lives in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of northern Venezuela to northern Bolivia.
It is classified as endangered ( " least concern ").
Features
Goldtangaren reach a body length of just over 13 cm and weigh up to 22 grams. The head is golden yellow in color with a narrow black area around the beak. In the ear-coverts is each a trapezoidal black spot. The upper back is black dashed lines, the lower back and the rump golden. Wings and tail are mostly black, fringed wings at the edges green. The iris is brown to dark brown. The beak of adult birds is black. The legs are black, gray or bluish gray. The females are similar to males. The plumage of the young birds is gray, the ear-coverts appear featherless, the black spot is missing. Beak and legs of the young birds are gray.
Geographical variation
There are nine subspecies recognized:
- Tangara arthus aequatorialis ( Taczanowski & Berlepsch ) 1885 - eastern slope of the Andes of Ecuador and adjacent northern Peru.
- Tangara arthus arthus Lesson 1832 - mountains north and west of Venezuela.
- Tangara arthus aurulenta ( Lafresnaye ) 1843 - Sierra de Perijá in northwestern Venezuela and western slopes of the eastern Andes of Colombia.
- Tangara arthus good soni Hartert 1913 - western slope of the Andes of Ecuador and possibly northwest Peru.
- Tangara arthus occidentalis Chapman 1914 - western slope of the Central Andes, and both sides of the West Andes in Colombia.
- Tangara arthus palmitae Meyer de Schauensee 1947 - western slope of the Eastern Andes near La palmita in the province of Santander, Colombia.
- Tangara arthus pulchra ( Tschudi ) 1844 - eastern slopes of the Andes of Peru.
- Tangara arthus sclateri ( Lafresnaye ) 1854 - Both slopes of the eastern Andes of Colombia and possibly in the Andes of the adjacent West Venezuela.
- Tangara arthus sophiae ( Berlepsch ) 1901 - eastern slope of the Andes of Peru Southeast and south to Bolivia.
The bottom varies depending on the subspecies and distribution area from yellow to brownish. From the chest on the bottom up to the under tail-coverts runs in the nominate form a broad, maroon ribbon. The yellow in T. a aurulenta is somewhat paler, the underside plain golden yellow. In T. a aequatorialis throat and chest are faded red-brown to yellow-brown, with a T. pulchra and T. a sophiae the hue on the throat and chest is clear. The underside of T. a sclateri is uniformly reddish brown. In T. a good sonic the bottom of the rump is less golden than in T. a aurulenta, clear yellow. T. a palmitae is T. a aurulenta and T. a good soni similar. The underside is paler, the strips on the back are yellow-green. Also a T. occidentalis is similar to T. a aurulenta, but the bottom is colorful.
Dissemination
The distribution area includes the coastal mountains of eastern Falcón and Miranda and the Andean slope in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Eastern Peru and northwestern Bolivia. The Goldtangare usually occurs at altitudes of 700-2500 m. Below 1500 m, it is most common, locally it can be found down to sea level.
Way of life
Goldtangaren usually live in pairs or small groups and socialize almost always with other Tangarenarten. The habitat is montane rain forests and forest edges. The species feeds on fruits, berries ( such as the mouth of the Black family) as well as insects they typically look at mossy branches. You can find the food in medium tree height up in the treetops. The nest is built on mossy branches and can be incorporated into the moss. The nest consists of one to two eggs which are incubated for 10 to 15 days. To the boys, several adult birds take care of the food consists of fruits and arthropods.