The golden-hooded tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador.
Region
Central America to western Ecuador
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, extending along the Pacific lowlands of Colombia to western Ecuador. Most frequently found in humid lowland and foothill forests, second growth, and forest edges. It adapts well to semi-open habitats including cacao and coffee plantations and well-wooded gardens. Typically forages in the mid-story to canopy but will descend for fruiting shrubs.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The golden-hooded tanager is a striking canopy tanager that often joins mixed-species flocks, making it more easily spotted at forest edges and gardens. It readily visits fruiting trees and even garden feeders in parts of its range. By consuming small fruits, it plays a role in seed dispersal across tropical forests.
CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small groups and commonly joins mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Builds a small cup nest well concealed in foliage; the female does most incubation while the male assists with provisioning. Territoriality is modest, with tolerance for conspecifics around rich food sources.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched tseep and tinkling notes, often delivered in short series. The song is a rapid, light twitter interspersed with sharp chips, carrying best in quiet forest edge conditions.
