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.
Plumage
Glossy green upperparts with bright turquoise to blue-green underparts and a rich bay (chestnut) head; rump color varies by subspecies from yellow to blue or green. Feathers are sleek and smooth, giving a satiny appearance in good light.
Diet
Primarily consumes a variety of small fruits and berries from canopy and edge trees. Supplements its diet with insects and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. Will visit fruiting shrubs and occasionally take nectar or soft pulp. Plays an important role in seed dispersal in tropical forests.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mostly in the mid- to upper canopy, especially at fruiting trees. Also uses forest edges, second growth, and shaded plantations where fruit availability is high.
