Swallow Tanager

Fascinating facts about the Swallow Tanager

• In the Andes mountains, a tiny king of iridescent feathers rules the forest canopy: during courtship, males perform a 10-second song, repeating it 12 times a minute, to win a mate. This song is a crucial part of their display, with 75% of males singing from the top of a tree, making them visible to females from over 100 metres away.
• Tersina viridis can be found in flocks of up to 20 birds, foraging for fruit, seeds, and insects in the upper canopy of the cloud forest, where the trees are adorned with orchids, bromeliads, and ferns, and the atmosphere is cool and misty, with rainfall almost daily, averaging 2,000 mm per year.
• Reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h, the Swallow Tanager migrates vertically, flying up or down the mountain to find food, with some populations moving as much as 1,500 metres in a single day, to exploit the abundant fruit and nectar in the tropical cloud forests during the dry season, from June to September.
• Swallow Tanagers have a highly efficient kidney system, allowing them to excrete excess salt and retain water, crucial in their humid, high-altitude habitat, where water is abundant but often contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants, and the air is thin, with oxygen levels 30% lower than at sea level.
• Conservation efforts for the Swallow Tanager are focused on protecting its cloud forest habitat, with organizations working to restore degraded forests, and promote sustainable land use practices, such as agroforestry and ecotourism, which can help to reduce deforestation, and support local communities, with the goal of maintaining a stable population of 100,000 breeding pairs, and preserving the genetic diversity of this species.

At a glance

About the Swallow Tanager

The Swallow Tanager (Tersina viridis) is a striking bird, easily recognized by its vibrant plumage that shimmers in hues of turquoise and green, accented by a contrasting black mask. Males are particularly stunning, boasting a deep blue-green body and a black crown, while females exhibit a more subdued coloration, blending shades of yellow and green that provide excellent camouflage among the foliage. This species thrives in the humid forests and edges of Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Brazil, where it flits gracefully among the branches. With a penchant for forming small flocks, the Swallow Tanager is often seen darting through the canopy, their movements quick and agile, reminiscent of the swallows for which they are named. Their melodious calls echo through the forest, a delightful prelude to their striking presence. In terms of diet, the Swallow Tanager is primarily frugivorous, favoring ripe berries and fruits, but it also indulges in insects during the breeding season to provide essential protein for its young. This adaptability in diet showcases their resilience in varying habitats. One surprising trait of the Swallow Tanager is its unique nesting behavior; they often build their nests in the abandoned nests of other birds, particularly those of the oriole, a testament to their resourcefulness in utilizing available resources. As these vibrant birds continue their dance through the canopies, their vivid colors serve as a reminder of the intricate beauty and complexity of the ecosystems they inhabit.

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