The bay-headed tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder in Costa Rica, Panama, South America south to Ecuador, Bolivia and north-western Brazil, and on Trinidad.
Region
Central America and northern South America
Typical Environment
Found from Costa Rica and Panama through northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Brazil, as well as on Trinidad. It occupies humid lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, and second growth. The species adapts well to semi-open habitats with abundant fruiting trees, including plantations and gardens near forest. It typically forages in the mid- to upper canopy but will descend to lower levels where food is plentiful.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The bay-headed tanager is a vividly colored Neotropical songbird with numerous subspecies that vary in rump and underpart coloration. It often joins mixed-species flocks and frequents fruiting trees, helping disperse seeds across tropical forests. Despite its bright plumage, it can be surprisingly inconspicuous in dense canopy foliage.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Commonly travels in pairs or small groups and frequently joins mixed-species canopy flocks. Builds a neat cup nest concealed in foliage; the female leads nest construction and incubation. Typical clutches are two eggs, with both parents feeding the nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Soft, thin twitters and high chips, often given while foraging. Vocalizations are not especially loud, consisting of delicate, sibilant notes interspersed with brief trills.
