Blue-and-yellow Tanager Rauenia bonariensis Scientific name definitions
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Species names in all available languages
| Language | Common name |
|---|---|
| Catalan | tàngara blau-i-groga |
| Dutch | Blauw-gele Tangare |
| English | Blue-and-yellow Tanager |
| English (United States) | Blue-and-yellow Tanager |
| French | Tangara fourchu |
| French (France) | Tangara fourchu |
| German | Schwarzstirntangare |
| Japanese | ミナミズアオフウキンチョウ |
| Norwegian | blågultanagar |
| Polish | tanagra żółtobrzucha |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | sanhaço-papa-laranja |
| Portuguese (Portugal) | Sanhaço-papa-laranja |
| Russian | Сине-жёлтая танагра |
| Serbian | Plavo-žuta tangara |
| Slovak | tangara žlto-modrá |
| Spanish | Tangara Naranjera |
| Spanish (Argentina) | Naranjero |
| Spanish (Chile) | Naranjero |
| Spanish (Ecuador) | Tangara Azuliamarilla |
| Spanish (Paraguay) | Naranjero |
| Spanish (Peru) | Tangara Azul y Amarilla |
| Spanish (Spain) | Tangara naranjera |
| Spanish (Uruguay) | Naranjero |
| Swedish | gulgumpad bergtangara |
| Turkish | Mavi-Sarı Tangara |
| Ukrainian | Саяка жовто-синя |
Rauenia bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789)
Definitions
- RAUENIA
- bonariae / bonariensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
Taxonomic note: Lump. This account is a combination of multiple species accounts originally published in HBW Alive. That content has been combined and labeled here at the subspecies level. Moving forward we will create a more unified account for this parent taxon. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.
The Blue-and-yellow Tanager is a brightly colored member of the Thraupidae that ranges widely from Argentina northwest to Andean Ecuador. It can be found in numerous habitats from scrubby edges and parks to pure forest of varied types. The species is identified by its blue head and wings, blackish or greenish back, and yellow underparts and rump; females are less colorful than males but show the same general pattern. Blue-and-yellow Tanager is frequently detected by its song, a series of variable chips, or its "whiink" calls.
Field Identification
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
16–18 cm; 28–42·7 g. Adult male has head and throat dull blue, lores and ocular area black, back and sides of chest olive, rump golden-yellow, longest uppertail-coverts dull olive, wing feathers broadly edged and tipped blue, tail edged and tinged blue, central breast and rest of underparts yellow, duller on belly and undertail-coverts. Adult female is notably dull, being dingy brownish olive above, rump tinged buff, head somewhat bluish-washed, all wing feathers edged greyish blue and underparts buffy olive to dull yellowish buff. Juvenile is not well described, but is overall drabber than adult female and usually shows blue-grey on wings and head.Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
15·5–19 cm; 24·9–46·5 g. A mostly open-country tanager. Male nominate race has head, neck and throat bright cornflower-blue, narrow line over bill, lores, around eye and chin black (forming small, contrasting mask); mantle, back and scapulars blackish, extending to sides of chest and forming partial black collar; rump bright orange-yellow; upperwing-coverts dusky, all except lowest feather of greater coverts broadly edged blue; flight-feathers dusky, edged blue; tail black, heavily edged blue; chest to mid-breast rich deep yellow-orange, becoming bright yellow on lower underparts; eyes reddish brown; bill blackish above, mandible mostly pale grey or whitish, frequently with yellowish-horn tinge and dark tip; legs dark grey to greenish grey. Female is much duller than male, mainly greyish brown above, greyer on throat and chest, develops some orange on breast during breeding season, lower underparts dull buff. Juvenile is mainly dull brownish grey above and paler below, almost devoid of colour, or with hint of blue on wing. Races differ in size, but mainly in plumage of male: composite is similar in size to nominate, male with rich orange of breast extending slightly less onto lower underparts, female has more blue on head; and schulzei is slightly smaller than previous, male has blue of head darker, is less richly coloured below, orange of breast less deep and less extensive.Systematics History
Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Differs in its (in male) olive-green vs black mantle, back, scapulars and chest side (3); yellow vs flame-orange breast and rump (3); (in female) bluer crown, wings and tail (2); more olive-yellow underparts and rump (ns[2]); and song with lower-pitched notes in narrow frequency range (2) (1). Monotypic.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
Until recently placed in Thraupis. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled) Rauenia bonariensis darwinii Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Rauenia bonariensis darwinii (Bonaparte, 1838)
Definitions
- RAUENIA
- bonariae / bonariensis
- darwini / darwinii
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow) Rauenia bonariensis [bonariensis Group]
Distribution
Rauenia bonariensis composita (Zimmer, 1944)
Definitions
- RAUENIA
- bonariae / bonariensis
- composita / compositus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Rauenia bonariensis schulzei (Brodkorb, 1938)
Definitions
- RAUENIA
- bonariae / bonariensis
- schultzei / schulzei / schulzi / schulzii
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Rauenia bonariensis bonariensis (Gmelin, 1789)
Definitions
- RAUENIA
- bonariae / bonariensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Andes of Ecuador (from S Carchi, Imbabura and extreme W Napo S, mainly in C highlands, to Loja), and in Peru S on W slope to N Chile (Tarapacá) and on E slope to extreme W Bolivia (La Paz).Habitat
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Wide range of habitats, from humid and wet cloudforest borders and humid second-growth woodland to parks, gardens, orchards, arid semi-open highlands, dry scrubby hillsides, brushy borders of agricultural fields, and settled and cultivated areas in dry to moist regions. In general most numerous in dry, scrubby semi-open areas in Andes and usually not inside humid forest, but does occur in disturbed woodland in humid areas (e.g. Urubamba Valley below Machu Picchu, in Peru). Mostly c. 1800–3000 m (almost exclusively within this elevational range in Ecuador), locally higher (to 3480 m in Ecuador, 3600 m in Bolivia and 4200 m in Peru), and down to 800 m on E slope of Andes in Peru, where largely replaced by Sporathraupis cyanocephala (not below 1300 m in Bolivia), and to sea-level on Pacific coast of Peru.Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
From humid and wet cloudforest borders, Polylepis woodland, and humid second-growth woodland to parks, gardens, orchards, arid semi-open highlands, dry scrubby hillsides, brushy borders of agricultural fields, and settled and cultivated areas in dry to moist regions; occurs in trees near water in arid areas, and in groves of Celtis in Argentine pampas. In general most numerous in dry, scrubby semi-open areas in Andes and in semi-open areas with patches of woodland in more humid areas, such as pampas in Argentina. Usually not inside humid forest, but does occur in disturbed woodland in humid areas. Generally from sea-level to c. 2550 m, but to 3800 m in Bolivia.Migration Overview
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Probably largely resident.Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
S breeders migratory, most moving N out of Argentina during austral winter; possibly migratory also in Uruguay and S Brazil. During non-breeding season, some birds occur further N, in extreme SE Bolivia (S Tarija), N Argentina and Paraguay. A possible vagrant recorded in Santa Cruz province, S Argentina, in Jan 2013 (2).
Diet and Foraging
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Takes both fruit and insects; most often seen in fruiting trees or shrubs, and in settled areas probably consumes eats a variety of cultivated fruits. Occurs alone, in pairs and, at least during some times of year, in small groups of three or four individuals (family parties?); often seen at fruiting trees and in flowering trees (e.g. Inga in Peru) with other species, and can join mixed-species foraging flocks in parts of Peru. Forages at various heights, often rather low, but regularly higher, often on exposed perch. Generally conspicuous and familiar.Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
Takes both fruit and insects (including winged termites); most often seen in fruiting trees or shrubs, and at cactus fruits (Bolivia), and in settled areas eats a variety of cultivated fruits (reportedly very fond of oranges in Argentina), with at least 17 species reported in the literature from Brazil; e.g. Ficus organensis, Eugenia uniflora, Ilex paraguariensis, Solanum paniculatum, Diospyros kaki, Citrus reticulata and Eriobotrya japonica. Observed taking sap at holes made by White-fronted Woodpeckers (Melanerpes cactorum) in the Chaco of NW Argentina, and eating eucalypt flowers in S Brazil. Occurs alone, in pairs and, at least during some times of year, in small groups of three to five individuals (family parties?); often seen at fruiting trees and in flowering trees (e.g. Inga in Peru) with other species, but usually not with mixed-species foraging flocks, occurring mainly in semi-open areas where few insectivorous flocks form. Forages at various heights, often rather low, but regularly higher, often on exposed perch. Generally conspicuous and familiar wherever it occurs.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Song described as rather musical and not squeaky, a repetitive two- or three-syllable series, which is occasionally very loud and wiry in quality, e.g. “swee-teet, swee-teet, swee-sew-teet” or “s’dusee-dusee-dusee”, or “chew see-wee chew see-wee chew see-wee…”. Call a high-pitched “tip”; also screechy chatters.Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
Song (in Argentina) a loud, sweet and remarkably musical but rather repetitive “swéét-sur, swéét-sur, swéét-sur, swéét-sur” or lisping (in Bolivia) “tsee wheet?-tsee wheet?-tsee wheet?”, occasionally preceded by short trill or single note, and each phrase rising and then falling in pitch; unlike those of congeners (which are squeaky). Each phrase lasts 3–4 seconds and is repeated at intervals of 10–20 seconds. Dawn song similarly rhythmic, but more complex. Apt to sing a few times, then move to another tree and repeat the performance. Songs far-carrying and generally louder, crisper and cleaner in S of range. Call a nasal, rising then falling “keow”.Breeding
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Breeding reported in Apr in Peru, where fledglings observed in Jun, but virtually nothing else seems to be known.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
Breeding dates range from Nov–Dec in Bolivia; Mar and Apr in Chile, Dec–Feb in NW Argentina, and Nov–Jan in Uruguay and Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), although young have been observed in latter country as early as early Nov, suggesting a longer season; second broods may be attempted. Simple cup-shaped nest (external diameter 120–130 mm, internal diameter 60–65 mm, outside height 60–70 mm, inside depth 40–45 mm) in horizontal fork in crown of bush or small tree, e.g. Prosopis ferox, often no more than 2 m up, occasionally as high as 4·1 m. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually three (apparently larger clutches in S latitudes), variable in colour even within same clutch, may be dirty white, pale blue or pale green, thickly marked with dark grey, especially at larger end, size 24·6–27·9 mm × 17–18 mm, mass 3·4–4 g, incubated by the female alone. In captivity, both adults provision the young. No other information.
Conservation Status
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Green-mantled)
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common and widespread over almost all of its extensive range. Has almost certainly profited from deforestation, settlement and other human activities, e.g. in Ecuador, where it is mainly confined to arid intermontane Andean valleys. It has been suggested that the species might occasionally wander to extreme S Colombia, but no records there to date.
Blue-and-yellow Tanager (Blue-and-yellow)
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Common and widespread over almost all of its extensive range. In Brazil, recently confirmed to also occur in SE Mato Grosso do Sul, extending the range slightly NW. Has profited from deforestation, settlement and other human activities. In some areas is regarded as a pest (and is killed in response), because it frequently damages fruit in orchards.
