Habia (bird)

Taxobox
name = Habias

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image_caption = Red-throated Ant-tanager
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Cardinalidae
genus = " Habia "
genus_authority = Blyth, 1840
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = "Habia atrimaxillaris" "Habia cristata" "Habia fuscicauda" "Habia gutturalis" "Habia rubica"

Ant-"tanagers" or habias are birds of the genus "Habia". These are long-tailed and strong billed birds. The males have a red crest and plumage containing red, brown or sooty hues. Females may resemble the males or be largely yellowish or brown in colour. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), they are actually closer to "Cardinalis" in the Cardinalidae.

All species forage for insects, which can be larger than their bills. Fruit is a minor part of their diet. Red-throated, Sooty and Black-cheeked Ant-tanagers form a superspecies; they inhabit secon growth and patchy woodland. They look down from a series of low (2-3 m) perches and take prey from foliage or in flight. They follow army ant swarms to catch insects that are fleeing from the ants.

Red-crowned and Crested Ant-tanagers prefer denser undergrowth and watch from higher (4-5 m) perches, often working upwards through the foliage. They are less likely to follow ant columns.

The female alone builds a cup nest and incubates the two or three eggs. The young leave the nest before they can fly and hide in dense vegetation.

Ant-tanagers have harsh call notes but musical whistled songs.

pecies in taxonomic order

* Red-crowned Ant-tanager, "Habia rubica"
* Red-throated Ant-tanager, "Habia fuscicauda"
* Sooty Ant-tanager, "Habia gutturalis"
* Black-cheeked Ant-tanager, "Habia atrimaxillaris"
* Crested Ant-tanager, "Habia cristata"

References

*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5
* Morton, Isler & Isler, "Tanagers" ISBN 0-7136-5116-4
* Stiles and Skutch, "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica" ISBN 0-8014-9600-4