Palm Tanager

Taxobox
name = Palm Tanager
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Thraupidae
genus = "Thraupis"
species = "T. palmarum"
binomial = "Thraupis palmarum"
binomial_authority = (Wied, 1821)

The Palm Tanager, "Thraupis palmarum", is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from Nicaragua south to Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil. It also breeds on Trinidad and, since 1962, on Tobago. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is known by colloquial names such as the 'Palmiste' and the 'Green Jean'.

It occurs in semi-open areas including cultivation and gardens. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree, usually a palm, or under the eaves of a house, and the female incubates three, sometimes two, brown-blotched cream eggs for 14 days, with another 17 days to fledging.

Adult Palm Tanagers are 19 cm long and weigh 36 g. They are grey to dull olive-green. The flight feathers are blackish, and the long tail is blackish edged with green. A yellow wingbar shows in flight. Sexes are similar, although females may be somewhat paler.

Palm Tanagers are social, restless but unwary birds which eat a wide variety of small fruit. They also regularly take some nectar and insects, including caterpillars. The song is fast and squeaky.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5
*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

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=9188 Palm Tanager videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=palm+tanager&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Palm Tanager photo gallery] VIREO
* [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Featured_photo/Images/Bigpic/pata1.jpgPhoto-High Res] ; [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Featured_photo/photographer.cfm?photographer=Karen_L._Sirna Article] nationalzoo.si.edu–"Smithsonian: Migratory Bird Center"