Hemithraupis guira
The Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira) is a small, vibrant songbird belonging to the Thraupidae family, known for its active demeanor and striking sexual dimorphism. Males are instantly recognizable by their ash-grey head, bright orange or yellow throat and breast contrasting with a pristine white belly, and an olive-green back. Reaching an average length of 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in) and weighing around 10-14 grams, their slender build allows for agile movements through dense foliage. Females are...
This species primarily inhabits humid and semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, and second growth, favoring the canopy and mid-story. It occurs from lowlands up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Their diet primarily consists of small insects and arthropods, which they glean actively from leaves and branches, supplemented by small fruits and berries.
Guira Tanagers are diurnal and highly active, often observed gleaning insects and small fruits from foliage and bark, typically as part of mixed-species flocks. These flocks can be quite large and diverse, moving purposefully through the forest canopy and mid-story throughout the day. While terri...
The Guira Tanager is widely distributed across much of tropical and subtropical South America, where it is a resident species. Its extensive breeding range spans from central Colombia and Venezuela eastward through the Guianas, and south across the Amazon Basin of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It e...
Least Concern
- Despite their name, Guira Tanagers belong to the genus Hemithraupis, which is distinct from the more familiar Tangara genus of tanagers. - Males exhibit striking sexual dimorphism, with vibrant orange-yellow throats and breasts that stand out against their grey heads. - They are a quintessentia...