26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)

The palm tanager (Thraupis palmarum ) is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from Nicaragua south to Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil. It also breeds on Trinidad and, since 1962, on Tobago. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is known by colloquial names such as the "palmiste" on American Spanish countries (Colombian pronn: "pūlmist "), Brazil Pipira-verde (Portuguese pronn: "pəəpəərā-værd ") and the "green jean" in American English.

Adult palm tanagers are 19 cm (7.5 in) long and weigh 36 g (1.3 oz). They are grey to dull olive-green. The flight feathers are blackish, and the long tail is blackish edged with green. A yellow wingbar shows in flight. Sexes are similar, although females may be somewhat paler.

It occurs in semi-open areas including cultivation and gardens. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree, usually a palm, or under the eaves of a house, and the female incubates three, sometimes two, brown-blotched cream eggs for 14 days, with another 17 days to fledging.

Palm tanagers are social, restless but unwary birds which eat a wide variety of small fruit. They also regularly take some nectar and insects, including caterpillars. The song is fast and squeaky.

25-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)

The Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) is a medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 19 cm (7.5 inches) in length and weighing around 36 grams (1.3 ounces). Its plumage is primarily a grey to dull olive-green, with blackish flight feathers and a similarly colored long tail edged in green. A distinctive yellow wingbar is visible during flight. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though females may exhibit a slightly paler hue.

When identifying the Palm Tanager, look for its grey to olive-green coloration and the yellow wingbar that becomes apparent in flight. The blackish tail with green edging is also a key characteristic. The bird's size and social behavior can aid in identification, as it is often seen in groups.

The Palm Tanager is found in semi-open areas, which include cultivated lands and gardens. It has a preference for nesting in palms or under the eaves of houses, indicating its adaptability to human-modified landscapes.

This species is a resident breeder with a range extending from Nicaragua through South America to Bolivia, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. It is also present on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

26-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA - PALM TANAGER (Thraupis palmarum)

The palm tanager (Thraupis palmarum ) is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder from Nicaragua south to Bolivia, Paraguay and southern Brazil. It also breeds on Trinidad and, since 1962, on Tobago. In Trinidad and Tobago, it is known by colloquial names such as the "palmiste" on American Spanish countries (Colombian pronn: "pūlmist "), Brazil Pipira-verde (Portuguese pronn: "pəəpəərā-værd ") and the "green jean" in American English.

Adult palm tanagers are 19 cm (7.5 in) long and weigh 36 g (1.3 oz). They are grey to dull olive-green. The flight feathers are blackish, and the long tail is blackish edged with green. A yellow wingbar shows in flight. Sexes are similar, although females may be somewhat paler.

It occurs in semi-open areas including cultivation and gardens. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree, usually a palm, or under the eaves of a house, and the female incubates three, sometimes two, brown-blotched cream eggs for 14 days, with another 17 days to fledging.

Palm tanagers are social, restless but unwary birds which eat a wide variety of small fruit. They also regularly take some nectar and insects, including caterpillars. The song is fast and squeaky.