The tamarugo conebill is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It breeds in northern Chile and is a vagrant to southern Peru, and receives its name from the tamarugo, a type of shrub to which it is closely associated.
Region
Atacama Desert, northern Chile
Typical Environment
Occurs primarily in native and planted tamarugo (Prosopis tamarugo) woodlands of the Pampa del Tamarugal and nearby oasis-like riparian groves. It also uses other Prosopis (algarrobo) stands and shelterbelts around settlements. The species remains canopy-oriented, moving methodically along twigs and leaflets. Vagrants have been recorded in adjacent southern Peru, but breeding is confined to northern Chile. Habitat quality is closely tied to groundwater levels and protection of Prosopis stands.
Altitude Range
800–1500 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for the tamarugo tree (Prosopis tamarugo), to which it is tightly linked, this small tanager is one of Chile’s most localized birds. It forages high in Prosopis canopies, gleaning tiny arthropods and visiting flowers for nectar or honeydew. Conservation hinges on the health of tamarugo groves and groundwater management in the Pampa del Tamarugal. It occasionally wanders to southern Peru but breeds only in northern Chile.
Temperament
active and canopy-oriented
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small family groups, and may join mixed-species flocks in Prosopis groves. Nests are small cups placed in tamarugo or other Prosopis trees. Breeding likely occurs in austral spring–summer when flowers and arthropods are abundant. Territoriality is modest, with most activity concentrated in favored groves.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, high-pitched series of tinkling notes and brief trills delivered from the canopy. Calls are subtle contact chips used while foraging, becoming more frequent during the breeding season.
Plumage
Neat, smooth plumage with gray to slate-gray upperparts and pale whitish underparts washed buff on the flanks; females are duller and browner-gray. The bill is short, fine, and conical, suited to gleaning. Tail and wings are dark, with little to no wingbar contrast.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small arthropods such as scale insects, aphids, and tiny caterpillars gleaned from leaves, flowers, and twigs. It also samples nectar and sugary exudates from Prosopis blossoms, especially when insect prey is scarce. Foraging is deliberate, with frequent probing among leaflets and flower clusters. Occasionally hawks short distances for flushed insects.
Preferred Environment
Canopy and outer foliage of tamarugo and other Prosopis trees. Frequently works along flowering branches and at the edges of groves where new growth attracts insects. Will use planted stands and shelterbelts in otherwise barren desert landscapes.
