Blue-Necked Tanager vs Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Blue-Necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

How to recognise a blue-necked tanager?

General appearance

The blue-necked tanager is a medium-sized bird characterized by striking, vibrant colors. Its name derives from its royal blue throat and chest. The rest of the body is mainly turquoise and green with varying shades. Its beak is short and quite sharp.

Male vs female

In the case of the blue-necked tanager, both males and females share a similar appearance with no significant differences. Both sexes exhibit the same bright blue neck and chest, and multicolored body. There's little to no sexual dimorphism, making them difficult to differentiate in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile blue-necked tanagers have a duller coloration compared to adults, often appearing more green than blue. While they share the same basic color pattern, their feathers lack the vibrant shine and intense colors of the adults. As they mature, their plumage will gradually brighten to match that of the adult birds.

Size

4.3 - 5.1 in/0.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Blue-necked Tanager primarily inhabits tropical lowland forests, from sea level up to 2,500m. They are typically found in the canopy.

Additional range

Can also be found in gardens, plantations, and scrubland areas. Its range spreads throughout South America including Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Bolivia.

Range Map

What do blue-necked tanagers like to eat?

Natural diet

The blue-necked tanager primarily feeds on a variety of fruits, berries, and insects. It forages through trees and bushes, consuming ripe fruits such as berries, figs, and other small tropical fruits. Insects, including beetles and caterpillars, provide essential proteins, making up a significant part of its diet, especially during the breeding season.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the blue-necked tanager is attracted to offerings of fresh fruits and sugar water. It favors sliced bananas, papayas, and pieces of melon. Nectar feeders also attract these birds, mimicking the sweet nectar from flowers they naturally consume. Rarely, they may try seeds, though these are not a staple of their diet.

What does a blue-necked tanager sound like?

The blue-necked tanager has a diverse repertoire of vocalizations. Its typical song is a rapid, high-pitched, melodic trill that lasts for 2-3 seconds, often compared to the sound of a sizzling pan. This tanager's common calls include short, sharp "tsip" or "seee" notes and quiet chirps. It also makes a distinct buzzy "tzeee" sound during flight. These vocalizations are often used for communication and during courtship rituals. Overall, the blue-necked tanager's voice is considered loud and lively.

Call

Audio by Niels Krabbe

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Thraupis ornata

How to recognise a golden-chevroned tanager?

General appearance

The golden-chevroned tanager is a medium-sized bird found in Brazil. It is characterized by its vibrant plumage with a predominantly blue body and bright yellow shoulder patches known as chevrons. The wings and tail often appear darker with a metallic sheen. Its slender build and strong beak make it adept at feeding on fruit and insects.

Male vs female

Both male and female golden-chevroned tanagers share similar coloration, making them difficult to distinguish in the field. However, males may exhibit slightly more vibrant blue tones compared to females. There are no significant differences in size or wing markings, which makes behavioral observation important for sex differentiation.

Juvenile

Juvenile golden-chevroned tanagers feature duller plumage than adults, with subdued blue and yellow hues. The wing bars are less pronounced, and the overall appearance is more muted, often lacking the metallic sheen seen in mature birds. As they mature, their colors brighten to match the vividness of adult tans.

Size

6.9 - 7.3 in/1.1 - 1.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The golden-chevroned tanager prefers humid subtropical forests, often found in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.

Additional range

Though primarily in forests, they also adapt to semi-open areas and urban parks within their range. They tolerate moderate climate changes.

Range Map

What do golden-chevroned tanagers like to eat?

Natural diet

The golden-chevroned tanager primarily feeds on a variety of fruits found in its natural habitats such as berries and figs. Additionally, it consumes nectar and supplements its diet with insects and small arthropods, which provide essential proteins. These birds are known to forage through trees and shrubs, using their beaks to pick food.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the golden-chevroned tanager is often attracted to offerings of fruits like bananas, papaya, and oranges. They may also be drawn to feeders stocked with nectar, similar to those used for hummingbirds. Occasionally, they may consume seeds, especially if they are presented in a manner that mimics their natural foraging behaviors.

What does a golden-chevroned tanager sound like?

The golden-chevroned tanager's vocalizations are characterized by a variety of high-pitched calls and melodic sounds. Its typical calls include a sharp, metallic "tsee" or "tsip" often used for communication among flock members. The song is a series of sweet, musical phrases delivered at a steady pace, interspersed with short trills and whistles. These vocalizations serve purposes like mating, territory defense, and maintaining flock cohesion. While not as complex as some other tanagers, the golden-chevroned tanager's calls and songs contribute to its vibrant presence in its native habitats.

Song

Audio by Jayrson Araujo De Oliveira

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Blue-Necked Tanager

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Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Blue-Necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

General appearance

The blue-necked tanager is a medium-sized bird characterized by striking, vibrant colors. Its name derives from its royal blue throat and chest. The rest of the body is mainly turquoise and green with varying shades. Its beak is short and quite sharp.

Male vs female

In the case of the blue-necked tanager, both males and females share a similar appearance with no significant differences. Both sexes exhibit the same bright blue neck and chest, and multicolored body. There's little to no sexual dimorphism, making them difficult to differentiate in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile blue-necked tanagers have a duller coloration compared to adults, often appearing more green than blue. While they share the same basic color pattern, their feathers lack the vibrant shine and intense colors of the adults. As they mature, their plumage will gradually brighten to match that of the adult birds.

Size

4.3 - 5.1 in/0.6 oz

There's more to learn about Blue-Necked Tanager

View full details

Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Thraupis ornata

General appearance

The golden-chevroned tanager is a medium-sized bird found in Brazil. It is characterized by its vibrant plumage with a predominantly blue body and bright yellow shoulder patches known as chevrons. The wings and tail often appear darker with a metallic sheen. Its slender build and strong beak make it adept at feeding on fruit and insects.

Male vs female

Both male and female golden-chevroned tanagers share similar coloration, making them difficult to distinguish in the field. However, males may exhibit slightly more vibrant blue tones compared to females. There are no significant differences in size or wing markings, which makes behavioral observation important for sex differentiation.

Juvenile

Juvenile golden-chevroned tanagers feature duller plumage than adults, with subdued blue and yellow hues. The wing bars are less pronounced, and the overall appearance is more muted, often lacking the metallic sheen seen in mature birds. As they mature, their colors brighten to match the vividness of adult tans.

Size

6.9 - 7.3 in/1.1 - 1.3 oz

There's more to learn about Golden-Chevroned Tanager

View full details

How to tell the Blue-Necked Tanager from the Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Visual differences

The Blue-Necked Tanager (4.3-5.1 inches, 0.6-0.6 oz) features a striking royal blue neck and chest with a mainly turquoise and green body, while the Golden-Chevroned Tanager (6.9-7.3 inches, 1.1-1.3 oz) displays a vibrant blue body with distinct bright yellow shoulder patches. The Blue-Necked Tanager has a short, sharp beak, whereas the Golden-Chevroned Tanager's beak is slender and strong. The latter bird's wings and tail have a metallic sheen, contrasting with the former's uniform, vibrant plumage.

Key differences and behavior

The Blue-Necked Tanager is notable for its cooperative family structure, with both parents and additional family members participating in chick rearing, while the Golden-Chevroned Tanager focuses on pairs sharing duties. Both species build cup-shaped nests, yet the Blue-Necked Tanager prefers dense foliage in tropical lowland forests across South America, while the Golden-Chevroned Tanager is more adaptable, nesting in humid subtropical forests and urban settings in Brazil. Both birds consume fruits and insects, but the Blue-Necked Tanager exhibits a strong preference for sweets and visits gardens for fruit feeders. During courtship, the Blue-Necked Tanager performs elaborate dances, contrasting with the vocal and visual displays of the Golden-Chevroned Tanager. Despite similar feeding habits, the Blue-Necked Tanager is smaller, weighing 0.56-0.63 oz (11-13 cm), compared to the larger Golden-Chevroned Tanager at 1.06-1.27 oz (6.9-7.3 inches).

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Blue-Necked Tanager or Golden-Chevroned Tanager?

Blue-Necked Tanager

How to recognise a blue-necked tanager?

Habitat

What do blue-necked tanagers like to eat?

What does a blue-necked tanager sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Blue-Necked Tanager

Golden-Chevroned Tanager

How to recognise a golden-chevroned tanager?

Habitat

What do golden-chevroned tanagers like to eat?

What does a golden-chevroned tanager sound like?

Song

There's more to learn about Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Blue-Necked Tanager

There's more to learn about Blue-Necked Tanager

Golden-Chevroned Tanager

There's more to learn about Golden-Chevroned Tanager

How to tell the Blue-Necked Tanager from the Golden-Chevroned Tanager

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

Blue-Necked Tanager vs Scrub Tanager

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