Tanager

The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.
Traditionally, the family contained around 240 species of mostly brightly colored fruit-eating birds. As more of these birds were studied using modern molecular techniques, it became apparent that the traditional families were not monophyletic. Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of the Fringillidae, in their own subfamily. Likewise, the genera Piranga, Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the family Cardinalidae, and have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.

Description

Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is long and weighs, barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is and weighs. The heaviest is the white-capped tanager, which weighs and measures about. Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.
Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.

Distribution

Tanagers are restricted to the Western Hemisphere and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.

Behavior

Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. These birds may also be seen in single-species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.

Diet

Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in the wood. Other species look for insects on the undersides of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.

Breeding

The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial, while others build their nests closer together. Little information is available on tanager breeding behavior. Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.
Most tanagers build cup nests on branches in trees. Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of the tree in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. No information is yet known regarding the nests of some species.
The clutch size is three to five eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young. Five species have helpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.

Taxonomy

The family Thraupidae was introduced in 1847 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The type genus is Thraupis.
The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as the New World, nine-primaried oscines. The traditional pre-molecular classification was largely based on the different feeding specializations. Nectar-feeders were placed in Coerebidae, large-billed seed-eaters in Cardinalidae, smaller-billed seed-eaters in Emberizidae, ground-foraging insect-eaters in Icteridae and fruit-eaters in Thraupidae. This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies. Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series of molecular phylogenetic studies led to a complete reorganization of the traditional families. Thraupidae now includes large-billed seed eaters, thin-billed nectar feeders, and foliage gleaners as well as fruit-eaters.
One consequence of redefining the family boundaries is that for many species their common names are no longer congruent with the families in which they are placed. As of July 2020 there are 39 species with "tanager" in the common name that are not placed in Thraupidae. These include the widely distributed scarlet tanager and western tanager, which are both now placed in Cardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were not monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.
As of March 2025 the family contains 393 species which are divided into 15 subfamilies and 105 genera. For a complete list, see the article List of tanager species.

List of genera

Catamblyrhynchinae

The plushcap has no close relatives and is now placed in its own subfamily. It was previously placed either in the subfamily Catamblyrhynchinae within the Emberizidae or in its own family Catamblyrhynchidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Catamblyrhynchus Lafresnaye, 1842	Plushcap – Catamblyrhynchus diadema

Charitospizinae

The coal-crested finch is endemic to the grasslands of Brazil and has no close relatives. It is unusual in that both sexes have a crest. It was formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Charitospiza Oberholser, 1905	Coal-crested finch – Charitospiza eucosma

Orchesticinae

Two species with large thick bills. Parkerthraustes was formerly placed in Cardinalidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Orchesticus Cabanis, 1851	Brown tanager – Orchesticus abeillei
	Parkerthraustes Remsen, 1997	Yellow-shouldered grosbeak, Parkerthraustes humeralis

Nemosiinae

Brightly colored, sexually dichromatic birds. Most form single-species flocks.

Image	Genus	Species
	Nemosia Vieillot, 1816	Hooded tanager, Nemosia pileata Cherry-throated tanager, Nemosia rourei
	Cyanicterus Bonaparte, 1850	Blue-backed tanager – Cyanicterus cyanicterus
	Sericossypha Lesson, 1844	White-capped tanager – Sericossypha albocristata
	Compsothraupis Richmond, 1915	Scarlet-throated tanager – Compsothraupis loricata

Emberizoidinae

Grassland dwelling birds that were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Coryphaspiza G.R. Gray, 1840	Black-masked finch – Coryphaspiza melanotis
	Embernagra Lesson, 1831	Serra finch – Embernagra longicauda Pampa finch – Embernagra platensis
	Emberizoides Temminck, 1822	Wedge-tailed grass finch – Emberizoides herbicola Duida grass finch – Emberizoides duidae Lesser grass finch – Emberizoides ypiranganus

Porphyrospizinae

Yellow billed birds. The blue finch was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Incaspiza Ridgway, 1898	Great Inca finch – Incaspiza pulchra Rufous-backed Inca finch – Incaspiza personata Grey-winged Inca finch – Incaspiza ortizi Buff-bridled Inca finch – Incaspiza laeta Little Inca finch – Incaspiza watkinsi
	Rhopospina Cabanis, 1851	Mourning sierra finch – Rhopospina fruticeti Blue finch – Rhopospina caerulescens Band-tailed sierra finch – Rhopospina alaudina Carbonated sierra finch – Rhopospina carbonaria

Hemithraupinae

These species are sexually dichromatic and many have yellow and black plumage. Except for Heterospingus, they have slender bills.

Image	Genus	Species
	Chlorophanes Reichenbach, 1853	Green honeycreeper – Chlorophanes spiza
	Iridophanes Ridgway, 1901	Golden-collared honeycreeper – Iridophanes pulcherrimus
	Chrysothlypis Berlepsch, 1912	Black-and-yellow tanager – Chrysothlypis chrysomelas Scarlet-and-white tanager – Chrysothlypis salmoni
	Heterospingus Ridgway, 1898	Sulphur-rumped tanager – Heterospingus rubrifrons Scarlet-browed tanager – Heterospingus xanthopygius
	Hemithraupis Cabanis, 1850	Guira tanager – Hemithraupis guira Rufous-headed tanager – Hemithraupis ruficapilla Yellow-backed tanager – Hemithraupis flavicollis

Dacninae

Sexually dichromatic species—males have blue plumage and females are green.

Image	Genus	Species
	Tersina Vieillot, 1819	Swallow tanager – Tersina viridis
	Cyanerpes Oberholser, 1899	Short-billed honeycreeper – Cyanerpes nitidus Shining honeycreeper – Cyanerpes lucidus Purple honeycreeper – Cyanerpes caeruleus Red-legged honeycreeper – Cyanerpes cyaneus
	Dacnis Cuvier, 1816	Scarlet-breasted dacnis – Dacnis berlepschi Scarlet-thighed dacnis – Dacnis venusta Blue dacnis – Dacnis cayana Yellow-bellied dacnis – Dacnis flaviventer Turquoise dacnis – Dacnis hartlaubi Black-faced dacnis – Dacnis lineata Yellow-tufted dacnis – Dacnis egregia Viridian dacnis – Dacnis viguieri Black-legged dacnis – Dacnis nigripes White-bellied dacnis – Dacnis albiventris

Saltatorinae

Mainly arboreal with long tails and thick bills. Formerly placed in Cardinalidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Saltatricula Burmeister, 1861	Many-colored Chaco finch – Saltatricula multicolor Black-throated saltator – Saltatricula atricollis
	Saltator Vieillot, 1816	Orinoco saltator – Saltator orenocensis Green-winged saltator – Saltator similis Bluish-grey saltator or Amazonian grey saltator – Saltator coerulescens Cinnamon-bellied saltator or northern grey saltator – Saltator grandis Olive-grey saltator or Caribbean grey saltator – Saltator olivascens Streaked saltator – Saltator striatipectus Lesser Antillean saltator – Saltator albicollis Buff-throated saltator – Saltator maximus Black-winged saltator – Saltator atripennis Black-headed saltator – Saltator atriceps Black-cowled saltator – Saltator nigriceps Black-throated grosbeak – Saltator fuliginosus Slate-coloured grosbeak – Saltator grossus Masked saltator – Saltator cinctus Thick-billed saltator – Saltator maxillosus Golden-billed saltator – Saltator aurantiirostris

Coerebinae

This subfamily includes Darwin's finches, of which all but the Cocos finch are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Most Coerebinae species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed in Parulidae and the orangequit that was placed in Thraupidae. These species build domed or covered nests with side entrances. They have evolved a variety of foraging techniques, including nectar-feeding, seed-eating, and insect gleaning.

Tachyphoninae

Most of these are lowland species. Many have ornamental features such as crests, and many have sexually dichromatic plumage.

Image	Genus	Species
	Volatinia Reichenbach, 1850	Blue-black grassquit – Volatinia jacarina
	Conothraupis Sclater, PL, 1880	Black-and-white tanager – Conothraupis speculigera Cone-billed tanager – Conothraupis mesoleuca
	Creurgops Sclater, PL, 1858	Rufous-crested tanager – Creurgops verticalis Slaty tanager – Creurgops dentatus
	Eucometis Sclater, PL, 1856	Grey-headed tanager – Eucometis penicillata
	Trichothraupis Cabanis, 1851	Black-goggled tanager – Trichothraupis melanops
	Heliothraupis Lane et al., 2021	Inti tanager – Heliothraupis oneilli
	Loriotus Jarocki, 1821	Flame-crested tanager – Loriotus cristatus Yellow-crested tanager – Loriotus rufiventer White-shouldered tanager – Loriotus luctuosus
	Coryphospingus Cabanis, 1851	Grey pileated finch – Coryphospingus pileatus Red pileated finch – Coryphospingus cucullatus
	Tachyphonus Vieillot, 1816	Fulvous-crested tanager – Tachyphonus surinamus Tawny-crested tanager – Tachyphonus delatrii Ruby-crowned tanager – Tachyphonus coronatus White-lined tanager – Tachyphonus rufus Red-shouldered tanager – Tachyphonus phoenicius
	Rhodospingus Sharpe, 1888	Crimson-breasted finch – Rhodospingus cruentus
	Lanio Vieillot, 1816	Fulvous shrike-tanager – Lanio fulvus White-winged shrike-tanager – Lanio versicolor Black-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio aurantius White-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio leucothorax
	Ramphocelus Desmarest, 1805	Crimson-collared tanager – Ramphocelus sanguinolentus Masked crimson tanager – Ramphocelus nigrogularis Crimson-backed tanager – Ramphocelus dimidiatus Huallaga tanager – Ramphocelus melanogaster Silver-beaked tanager – Ramphocelus carbo Brazilian tanager – Ramphocelus bresilius Passerini's tanager – Ramphocelus passerinii Cherrie's tanager – Ramphocelus costaricensis Flame-rumped tanager – Ramphocelus flammigerus * Lemon-rumped tanager – R. f. icteronotus

Sporophilinae

These species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Sporophila Cabanis, 1844

Poospizinae

Some of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Piezorina Lafresnaye, 1843	Cinereous finch – Piezorina cinerea
	Xenospingus Cabanis, 1867	Slender-billed finch – Xenospingus concolor
	Cnemoscopus Bangs & Penard, 1919	Grey-hooded bush tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris
	Pseudospingus Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896	Drab hemispingus – Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus Black-headed hemispingus – Pseudospingus verticalis
	Poospiza Cabanis, 1847	Bolivian warbling finch – Poospiza boliviana Cinnamon warbling finch – Poospiza ornata Black-and-rufous warbling finch – Poospiza nigrorufa Black-and-chestnut warbling finch – Poospiza whitii Collared warbling finch – Poospiza hispaniolensis Rufous-breasted warbling finch – Poospiza rubecula Tucumán mountain finch – Poospiza baeri Cochabamba mountain finch – Poospiza garleppi Slaty-backed hemispingus – Poospiza goeringi Rufous-browed hemispingus – Poospiza rufosuperciliaris
	Kleinothraupis Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016	Grey-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis reyi Black-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis atropileus White-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis auricularis Orange-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis calophrys Parodi's hemispingus – Kleinothraupis parodii
	Sphenopsis Sclater, 1862	Oleaginous hemispingus – Sphenopsis frontalis Black-eared hemispingus – Sphenopsis melanotis Piura hemispingus – Sphenopsis piurae Western hemispingus – Sphenopsis ochracea
	Thlypopsis Cabanis, 1851	Fulvous-headed tanager – Thlypopsis fulviceps Rufous-chested tanager – Thlypopsis ornata Brown-flanked tanager – Thlypopsis pectoralis Orange-headed tanager – Thlypopsis sordida Buff-bellied tanager – Thlypopsis inornata Rust-and-yellow tanager – Thlypopsis ruficeps
	Castanozoster Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016	Bay-chested warbling finch – Castanozoster thoracicus
	Donacospiza Cabanis, 1851	Long-tailed reed finch – Donacospiza albifrons
	Cypsnagra Lesson, R, 1831	White-rumped tanager – Cypsnagra hirundinacea
	Poospizopsis Berlepsch, 1893	Rufous-sided warbling finch – Poospizopsis hypocondria Chestnut-breasted mountain finch – Poospizopsis caesar
	Urothraupis Taczanowski & Berlepsch, 1885	Black-backed bush tanager – Urothraupis stolzmanni
	Nephelornis Lowery & Tallman, 1976	Pardusco – Nephelornis oneilli
	Microspingus Taczanowski, 1874	Buff-throated warbling finch – Microspingus lateralis Grey-throated warbling finch – Microspingus cabanisi Rusty-browed warbling finch – Microspingus erythrophrys Plain-tailed warbling finch – Microspingus alticola Ringed warbling finch – Microspingus torquatus Three-striped hemispingus – Microspingus trifasciatus Black-capped warbling finch – Microspingus melanoleucus Cinereous warbling finch – Microspingus cinereus

Diglossinae

This is a morphologically diverse group that includes seed-eaters, arthropod feeders, a bamboo specialist, an aphid feeder, and boulder field specialists. Many species live at high altitudes. Conirostrum was previously placed in Parulidae, Diglossa was placed in Thraupidae, and the remaining genera were placed in Emberizidae.

Image	Genus	Species
	Conirostrum d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838	Chestnut-vented conebill – Conirostrum speciosum White-eared conebill – Conirostrum leucogenys Bicolored conebill – Conirostrum bicolor Pearly-breasted conebill – Conirostrum margaritae Cinereous conebill – Conirostrum cinereum Tamarugo conebill – Conirostrum tamarugense White-browed conebill – Conirostrum ferrugineiventre Rufous-browed conebill – Conirostrum rufum Blue-backed conebill – Conirostrum sitticolor Capped conebill – Conirostrum albifrons Giant conebill – Conirostrum binghami
	Sicalis F. Boie, 1828
	Phrygilus Cabanis, 1844	Black-hooded sierra finch – Phrygilus atriceps Peruvian sierra finch – Phrygilus punensis Grey-hooded sierra finch – Phrygilus gayi Patagonian sierra finch – Phrygilus patagonicus
	Nesospiza Cabanis, 1873	Inaccessible Island finch – Nesospiza acunhae Nightingale Island finch – Nesospiza questi Wilkins's finch – Nesospiza wilkinsi
	Rowettia Lowe, 1923	Gough finch – Rowettia goughensis
	Melanodera Bonaparte, 1850	White-bridled finch – Melanodera melanodera Yellow-bridled finch – Melanodera xanthogramma
	Geospizopsis Bonaparte, 1856	Plumbeous sierra finch – Geospizopsis unicolor Ash-breasted sierra finch – Geospizopsis plebejus
	Haplospiza Cabanis, 1851	Slaty finch – Haplospiza rustica Uniform finch – Haplospiza unicolor
	Acanthidops Ridgway, 1882	Peg-billed finch – Acanthidops bairdi
	Xenodacnis Cabanis, 1873	Tit-like dacnis – Xenodacnis parina Streaked dacnis – Xenodacnis petersi
	Idiopsar Cassin, 1867	Red-backed sierra finch – Idiopsar dorsalis White-throated sierra finch – Idiopsar erythronotus Glacier finch – Idiopsar speculifer Boulder finch – Idiopsar brachyurus
	Catamenia Bonaparte, 1850	Band-tailed seedeater – Catamenia analis Plain-colored seedeater – Catamenia inornata Paramo seedeater – Catamenia homochroa
	Diglossa Wagler, 1832

Thraupinae

Typical tanagers.

Image	Genus	Species
	Calochaetes Sclater, PL, 1879	Vermilion tanager – Calochaetes coccineus
	Iridosornis Lesson, 1844	Purplish-mantled tanager – Iridosornis porphyrocephalus Yellow-throated tanager – Iridosornis analis Golden-collared tanager – Iridosornis jelskii Golden-crowned tanager – Iridosornis rufivertex Yellow-scarfed tanager – Iridosornis reinhardti
	Rauenia Wolters, 1980	Blue-and-yellow tanager – Rauenia bonariensis
	Pipraeidea Swainson, 1827	Fawn-breasted tanager – Pipraeidea melanonota
	Pseudosaltator K.J. Burns, Unitt & N.A. Mason, 2016	Rufous-bellied mountain tanager – Pseudosaltator rufiventris
	Dubusia Bonaparte, 1850	Buff-breasted mountain tanager – Dubusia taeniata Carriker's mountain tanager – Dubusia carrikeri Streak-crowned mountain tanager – Dubusia stictocephala Chestnut-bellied mountain tanager – Dubusia castaneoventris
	Buthraupis Cabanis, 1851	Hooded mountain tanager – Buthraupis montana
	Sporathraupis Ridgway, 1898	Blue-capped tanager – Sporathraupis cyanocephala
	Tephrophilus R. T. Moore, 1934	Masked mountain tanager – Tephrophilus wetmorei
	Chlorornis Reichenbach, 1850	Grass-green tanager – Chlorornis riefferii
	Cnemathraupis Penard, 1919	Black-chested mountain tanager – Cnemathraupis eximia Golden-backed mountain tanager – Cnemathraupis aureodorsalis
	Anisognathus Reichenbach, 1850	Santa Marta mountain tanager – Anisognathus melanogenys Lacrimose mountain tanager – Anisognathus lacrymosus Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager – Anisognathus igniventris Blue-winged mountain tanager – Anisognathus somptuosus Black-chinned mountain tanager – Anisognathus notabilis
	Chlorochrysa Bonaparte, 1851	Glistening-green tanager – Chlorochrysa phoenicotis Orange-eared tanager – Chlorochrysa calliparaea Multicoloured tanager – Chlorochrysa nitidissima
	Wetmorethraupis Lowery & O'Neill, 1964	Orange-throated tanager – Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron
	Bangsia Penard, 1919	Blue-and-gold tanager – Bangsia arcaei Black-and-gold tanager – Bangsia melanochlamys Golden-chested tanager – Bangsia rothschildi Moss-backed tanager – Bangsia edwardsi Gold-ringed tanager – Bangsia aureocincta Yellow-green tanager – Bangsia flavovirens
	Lophospingus Cabanis, 1878	Grey-crested finch – Lophospingus griseocristatus Black-crested finch – Lophospingus pusillus
	Neothraupis Hellmayr, 1936	Shrike-like tanager – Neothraupis fasciata
	Diuca Reichenbach, 1850	Diuca finch – Diuca diuca
	Gubernatrix Lesson, 1837	Yellow cardinal – Gubernatrix cristata
	Stephanophorus Strickland, 1841	Diademed tanager – Stephanophorus diadematus
	Cissopis Vieillot, 1816	Magpie tanager – Cissopis leverianus
	Schistochlamys Reichenbach, 1850	Cinnamon tanager – Schistochlamys ruficapillus Black-faced tanager – Schistochlamys melanopis
	Paroaria Bonaparte, 1832	Red-crested cardinal – Paroaria coronata Red-cowled cardinal – Paroaria dominicana Red-capped cardinal – Paroaria gularis Masked cardinal – Paroaria nigrogenis Crimson-fronted cardinal – Paroaria baeri Yellow-billed cardinal – Paroaria capitata
	Ixothraupis Bonaparte, 1851	Dotted tanager – Ixothraupis varia Rufous-throated tanager – Ixothraupis rufigula Spotted tanager – Ixothraupis punctata Speckled tanager – Ixothraupis guttata Yellow-bellied tanager – Ixothraupis xanthogastra
	Chalcothraupis Bonaparte, 1851	Golden-naped tanager – Chalcothraupis ruficervix
	Poecilostreptus Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016	Azure-rumped tanager – Poecilostreptus cabanisi Grey-and-gold tanager – Poecilostreptus palmeri
	Thraupis F. Boie, 1826	Blue-grey tanager – Thraupis episcopus Glaucous tanager – Thraupis glaucocolpa Sayaca tanager – Thraupis sayaca Azure-shouldered tanager – Thraupis cyanoptera Golden-chevroned tanager – Thraupis ornata Blue-capped tanager – Thraupis cyanocephala Blue-and-yellow tanager – Thraupis bonariensis * Darwin's tanager – T. b. darwinii Yellow-winged tanager – Thraupis abbas Palm tanager – Thraupis palmarum
	Stilpnia Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016
	Tangara Brisson, 1760

Genera formerly placed in Thraupidae

Passerellidae – New World sparrows

Chlorospingus – eight species - bush-tanagers
Oreothraupis – tanager finch

Cardinalidae – cardinalsPiranga – 9 species - northern tanagersHabia – five species - ant-tanagers or habiasChlorothraupis – three speciesAmaurospiza – four species
Fringillidae – subfamily EuphoniinaeEuphonia – 27 speciesChlorophonia – five species
Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan tanagersMicroligea – green-tailed warblerXenoligea – white-winged warblerPhaenicophilus – two species
Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid tanagersMitrospingus – two speciesOrthogonys – olive-green tanagerLamprospiza – red-billed pied tanager
NesospingidaeNesospingus – Puerto Rican tanager
SpindalidaeSpindalis – four species - spindalises
CalyptophilidaeCalyptophilus – two species - chat-tanagers
RhodinocichlidaeRhodinocichla – rosy thrush-tanager