

Image credit: © Paul Koker
Silver-throated Tanager
Scientific Name: Tangara icterocephala
Small tanager, overall lemon-yellow but not super bright; usually looks a bit dirty. Distinctive silvery throat; also note green edges on wing feathers and black streaks on back. Sexes similar; females a bit duller than males. Common and active; usually found in pairs or small flocks, sometimes with larger mixed feeding flocks. Tends to be found in more open areas such as forest edges or gardens, but also in forest canopy. Feeds on fruit.
Its vocalizations, though not particularly loud, are a constant presence in its preferred habitats. The song is a thin, high-pitched series of whistles, often described as a rapid “tsit-tsit-tsit” followed by a drawn-out, slightly descending “sweee.” Calls are shorter and sharper, used for contact within the flock or to signal alarm. When feeding on fruiting trees, they often hang upside down or perform acrobatic maneuvers to reach the ripest morsels, displaying a surprising agility for their small size. Their quick movements and tendency to stay within the foliage can make them a challenge to spot, but their characteristic silvery throat patch, when visible, serves as a reliable identification marker.
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