Tersina viridis
The Swallow Tanager, *Tersina viridis*, is an exceptionally striking member of the tanager family (Thraupidae), instantly recognizable by its vivid sexual dimorphism and unique morphology. Males boast an iridescent sky-blue plumage, starkly contrasted by a velvety black facial mask extending to the throat, and a bright white belly. Females, by contrast, exhibit a duller, though attractive, emerald green back and head, with a paler greenish-yellow belly and a less distinct dark wash on the fac...
This adaptable tanager primarily inhabits humid evergreen forests, forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth, often near rivers or streams. It can be found from sea level up to elevations of about 2000 meters (6,500 feet), occasionally higher.
Their diet consists primarily of insects, captured in mid-air through sallying, supplemented significantly by various small fruits and berries, especially those rich in sugar.
Swallow Tanagers are primarily diurnal, often seen perched conspicuously on high, exposed branches, scanning for prey. Their foraging strategy combines aerial flycatching with frugivory; they sally out to catch insects in flight with remarkable agility, returning to the same or a nearby perch. Th...
The Swallow Tanager boasts a wide distribution across Central and South America, extending from Costa Rica and Panama southwards through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, reaching as far south as Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. It is a resident species thr...
Least Concern
- The Swallow Tanager is the only member of the genus *Tersina*, making it evolutionarily distinct among tanagers. - Its common name refers to its swallow-like flight and aerial foraging techniques, despite not being related to swallows. - The species possesses a uniquely broad, flat, and triangu...