Yellow-bellied Tanager
Ixothraupis xanthogastra
A small, colorful bird of forest canopy. Mostly bright green spotted heavily with black; the wings are bluish and the belly clear yellow. Occurs in humid lowland and Andean foothill forests in central and western Amazonia; in eastern part of range it is mainly found in tepui foothills but is perhaps overlooked in lowlands. Usually observed in mixed-species flocks, especially with other tanagers, moving quickly through canopy feeding on insects and fruit. Makes a variety of high-pitched calls, especially in flight, similar to other small tanagers and not particularly helpful in identification. Told from Speckled and Spotted tanagers by bright yellow (not white) belly, and from Dotted Tanager by yellow belly and extensive black spotting on head and breast.
Identification
The yellow-bellied tanager (Ixothraupis xanthogastra) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is across northern and western South America, being found from Venezuela east into Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, south into Brazil and Bolivia, and east into Guyana. It mostly inhabits lowland tropical forests, woodland edges, and secondary growth. It is, on average, it is 11–12.2 cm (4.3–4.8 in) long and weighs 14.1–17.9 g (0.5–0.6 oz). It is largely green with a pattern of black spots, with a clean yellow belly and unspotted flanks. It is classified as being of least concern by the IUCN.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ixothraupis; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Ixothraupis xanthogastra
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1851)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Ixothraupis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Choco Warbler
Myiothlypis chlorophrys
Small warbler found in cloud forest in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Field marks include bright yellow underparts a well as dark stripes through face and on sides of crown. Orange central crown stripe may not be evident in the field. Similar to Three-striped Warbler, but yellower, has thinner crown stripes, and lacks crescent below eye. Pairs or small groups forage actively in lower to middle levels in the forest, often with mixed species flocks. Song is a rising and accelerating buzzy trill. Formerly called Golden-bellied Warbler.
Fawn-colored Lark
Calendulauda africanoides
A fairly average-looking but geographically highly variable lark. The overall coloration ranges from bright rufous in the northeast to dull rufous in much of the range, to brown in many areas, but there is always a distinct pale eyebrow, some streaking on the breast, and rufous in the wings that is conspicuous in flight. Pairs are resident in both arid and moist savanna, preferring softer sandy soils where they walk and run, digging in soft sand for insects and seeds. When breeding, the male sits up on a prominent perch singing a canary-like song that usually starts with a couple of introductory notes and is followed by a jumbled warble of buzzy but melodious notes. The song may include imitations of other bird species, and is sometimes also given in flight. Similar to several other lark species, but more rufous than most, and lacks bright white edges to the tail. Gillett’s Lark is also quite rufous, but Fawn-colored Lark lacks its rufous crown and cheek patch. Fawn-colored Lark also has a longer and slimmer bill than Horsfield’s Bushlark. Similar to Sabota Lark, but Fawn-colored has a plainer face pattern and shows a rufous wing panel.
Kelp Gull
Larus dominicanus
Large dark-backed gull. Few similar species in much of its range. Usually coastal. Adults have black backs and wings with very little white in the flight feathers. The bill is very strong and robust and the legs are greenish-yellow. Juveniles have a dark brown back mottled with white, a black bill, and a dark band on the tail.
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