Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager vs Sayaca Tanager

Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Also known as: Yellow-tufted Mountain Tanager

How to recognise a blue-winged mountain tanager?

General appearance

The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager is a stunning bird, best known for its vivid colors. It possesses a bright golden-yellow on the chest and belly, with a turquoise-blue crown and cheeks that extend down to the back and wings, serving as a stark contrast. This species also has a distinctive black mask around the eyes and patch in the center of the chest.

Male vs female

The sexes are mostly alike in the Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, showing no noticeable differences in physical appearance or coloration. Both sexes exhibit the same striking mix of yellow, black, and blue.

Juvenile

Juvenile Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers have a less conspicuous plumage compared to adults. Their coloration is generally duller, particularly the blue, which is darker and less vibrant. The yellow belly is also paler in juveniles. As they mature, their colors progressively intensify.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/1.2 - 2.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The blue-winged mountain tanager is native to South America, primarily inhabiting high-altitude forests in the Andes.

Additional range

Outside its typical range, the bird may sometimes be found in lower-altitude areas featuring moist, subtropical forests.

Range Map

What do blue-winged mountain tanagers like to eat?

Natural diet

The blue-winged mountain tanager primarily feeds on insects, fruits, and berries found in its natural habitat. Its diet includes various types of arthropods and ripe fruits such as berries and seeds found in the subtropical and tropical moist montane forests. The bird forages in the canopy, occasionally descending to lower vegetation levels.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, blue-winged mountain tanagers may consume offerings like sliced fruits, especially oranges, bananas, and papayas. They are also attracted to suet mixtures and sugar water solutions, though these are typically less common in their native range. Offering a variety of fruits can attract this species to garden feeders.

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Sayaca Tanager

Thraupis sayaca

How to recognise a sayaca tanager?

General appearance

The Sayaca Tanager is a medium-sized bird, typically around 16-18 cm in length, with a predominantly gray body. Their plumage features a subtle greenish-blue sheen on the wings and tail. The beak is short and stout, adapted for their fruit-based diet, and their legs are a light gray color. Their eyes are dark, contrasting with their generally pale facial feathers. In the wild, the Sayaca Tanager is often spotted in groups, exhibiting a lively presence in treetops.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in Sayaca Tanagers, making it challenging to differentiate between males and females based on appearance alone. Both sexes share the same gray and bluish-green coloration. However, males might occasionally exhibit a slightly brighter hue, particularly during the breeding season.

Juvenile

Juvenile Sayaca Tanagers are generally duller in color than adults. They tend to display a more muted gray and may lack the bluish-green sheen seen in mature birds. The juveniles' plumage gradually brightens as they reach maturity. As they age, the subtle differences in coloration between juveniles and adults become more apparent, aiding identification in the wild.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/1.0 - 1.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Sayaca Tanager primarily inhabits open woodlands, gardens, and urban areas across Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, preferring warm, tropical climates.

Additional range

Though mostly found in its typical range, it can also occupy unexpected environments like cultivated lands and semi-arid regions, showcasing its adaptability.

Range Map

What do sayaca tanagers like to eat?

Natural diet

The sayaca tanager primarily consumes a variety of fruits and berries found in its natural habitat. Common fruits include those from palm trees, fig trees, and other native shrubs. It also feeds on small insects and arthropods, which it actively seeks in the foliage.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the sayaca tanager often partakes in offerings such as bananas, papayas, and melons. This bird species may also consume commercially available bird food like suet or fruit-based mixtures provided in backyard feeders.

What does a sayaca tanager sound like?

The sayaca tanager vocalizes with a sweet, musical call that primarily consists of "tsee-tsee-tsuwee" sounds. Its melodious songs, a common feature in their social interactions, contain strophe patterns, often repeated consecutively, showcasing decent note variety. The bird's vocal range is extensive, with sounds varying from whistles to buzzing. This tanager’s vocalization is particularly noticeable during the mating season, when males actively sing to attract females.

Song

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Richard E. Webster

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager

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Sayaca Tanager

Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Also known as: Yellow-tufted Mountain Tanager

General appearance

The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager is a stunning bird, best known for its vivid colors. It possesses a bright golden-yellow on the chest and belly, with a turquoise-blue crown and cheeks that extend down to the back and wings, serving as a stark contrast. This species also has a distinctive black mask around the eyes and patch in the center of the chest.

Male vs female

The sexes are mostly alike in the Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, showing no noticeable differences in physical appearance or coloration. Both sexes exhibit the same striking mix of yellow, black, and blue.

Juvenile

Juvenile Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers have a less conspicuous plumage compared to adults. Their coloration is generally duller, particularly the blue, which is darker and less vibrant. The yellow belly is also paler in juveniles. As they mature, their colors progressively intensify.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/1.2 - 2.0 oz

There's more to learn about Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager

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Sayaca Tanager

Thraupis sayaca

General appearance

The Sayaca Tanager is a medium-sized bird, typically around 16-18 cm in length, with a predominantly gray body. Their plumage features a subtle greenish-blue sheen on the wings and tail. The beak is short and stout, adapted for their fruit-based diet, and their legs are a light gray color. Their eyes are dark, contrasting with their generally pale facial feathers. In the wild, the Sayaca Tanager is often spotted in groups, exhibiting a lively presence in treetops.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in Sayaca Tanagers, making it challenging to differentiate between males and females based on appearance alone. Both sexes share the same gray and bluish-green coloration. However, males might occasionally exhibit a slightly brighter hue, particularly during the breeding season.

Juvenile

Juvenile Sayaca Tanagers are generally duller in color than adults. They tend to display a more muted gray and may lack the bluish-green sheen seen in mature birds. The juveniles' plumage gradually brightens as they reach maturity. As they age, the subtle differences in coloration between juveniles and adults become more apparent, aiding identification in the wild.

Size

6.3 - 6.7 in/1.0 - 1.2 oz

There's more to learn about Sayaca Tanager

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How to tell the Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager from the Sayaca Tanager

Visual differences

The Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager is visually striking with bright golden-yellow on the chest and belly, a turquoise-blue crown, cheeks, and wings, contrasted by a black mask and chest patch. In comparison, the Sayaca Tanager has a predominantly gray body with a subtle greenish-blue sheen on the wings and tail. While both birds are similar in size (about 6-7 inches), the Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager's vivid coloration and contrasting patterns instantly distinguish it from the more muted, grayish Sayaca Tanager. Both species have short, stout beaks, but their distinct plumage colors are the key differentiators.

Key differences and behavior

The Blue-Winged Mountain Tanager and Sayaca Tanager exhibit distinct behaviors and habitat preferences. Blue-Winged Mountain Tanagers inhabit high-altitude Andean forests, often forming mixed-species foraging flocks, and are generally quiet. In contrast, Sayaca Tanagers thrive in open woodlands and urban areas in southeastern Brazil, displaying a rich repertoire of songs and a monogamous nature. Both species build cup-shaped nests, but Blue-Winged Mountain Tanagers perform lively courtship displays, while Sayaca Tanagers use song and aerial maneuvers. Diets overlap with fruits and insects, but Blue-Winged Mountain Tanagers also forage in canopy layers. Sayaca Tanagers, weighing slightly less (1.0-1.2 oz versus 1.2-2.0 oz), extend parental care longer, with families staying together post-fledging. Overall, Blue-Winged Mountain Tanagers are more colorful and less vocal, while Sayaca Tanagers are prominent city dwellers known for their melodic vocalizations.