White-lined Tanager

Taxobox
name = White-lined Tanager
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Adult male
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Thraupidae
genus = "Tachyphonus"
species = "T. rufus"
binomial = "Tachyphonus rufus"
binomial_authority = (Boddaert, 1783)

The White-lined Tanager, "Tachyphonus rufus", is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from Costa Rica south to northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago.

It occurs in semi-open areas including gardens. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree or shrub, and the female incubates three, sometimes two, brown-blotched cream eggs for 14-15 days.

Adult White-lined Tanagers are 18.5cm long and weigh 33g. They are long-tailed and with a mostly black stout pointed bill. The adult male is glossy black, apart from white underwing coverts and a small white patch on the upperwing. These white areas are conspicuous in flight but otherwise rarely visible. Females and immatures are entirely rufous in plumage, somewhat paler below.

These are restless but unwary birds which eat a wide variety of fruit, but especially epiphytes. They also take some nectar and insects, including beetles, ants and grasshoppers. They appear to be territorial, as only one nesting pair is usually seen in an area.

The White-lined Tanager’s song is a fast repetitive "cheeru". Local names in Trinidad and Tobago include 'Parson' (for the male), and 'Singing Angel'; on these islands, the species is valued highly for its whistling ability.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*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

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9149 White-lined Tanager videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=white-lined+tanager&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 White-lined Tanager photo gallery] VIREO
* [http://www.tekipaki.jp/~texbird/Tanagers2_files/6.jpgPhoto-Medium Res] ; [http://www.tekipaki.jp/~texbird/Tanagers2.htm Article] tekipaki.jp – "Tanagers"
* [http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/photos/tacruf14475.jpgPhoto-High Res] ; [http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/white-linedtanager.html Article & synopsis] arthurgrosset – "South American Birds"
* [http://www.pbase.com/terrythormin/image/54543032 Photo-High Res--(Jet Black Male)] ; [http://www.pbase.com/terrythormin/trinidadandtobago Article] pbase.com – "Trinidad and Tobago Birds"