The black-faced tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae.
Region
Amazon Basin and adjacent South American savannas
Typical Environment
Found widely from the Amazon Basin south into the Cerrado and adjacent open woodlands of Brazil, extending into Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, and parts of Colombia and Venezuela. It favors edges of forests, secondary growth, shrubby savannas, gallery woodlands, and scrub near clearings. The species adapts well to disturbed habitats, including roadsides and agricultural mosaics. It is most often encountered in lightly wooded areas rather than dense interior forest.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The black-faced tanager is a robust tanager of open and semi-open habitats, easily recognized by its striking black mask contrasting with a pale gray body. It often travels in small groups and readily joins mixed-species flocks along edges and clearings. Its flexible diet of fruits and insects allows it to thrive in scrub, savannas, and disturbed areas.
The black-faced tanager
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small groups, and it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks in open woodlands and along forest edges. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed in shrubs or small trees. Both parents participate in caring for the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of a series of clear, slightly nasal whistles interspersed with sharp chips. Calls are short, metallic notes used to keep contact within small groups.
Plumage
Clean, smooth gray plumage with a sharply contrasting black face and throat; underparts pale gray to whitish. Wings and tail slightly darker gray.
Diet
Eats a mix of small fruits and berries along with insects and other arthropods. It gleans from foliage, probes fruiting shrubs, and occasionally sallies to catch flying insects. The flexible diet allows it to exploit seasonal food availability.
Preferred Environment
Forages at shrub and mid-canopy levels along edges, in secondary growth, and scattered trees within savannas. It also feeds in partially open agricultural landscapes and around clearings.
