Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca Scientific name definitions

The Sayaca Tanager is a resident of forest edge and secondary forest from the Southern Amazon to Northern Argentina.  The Sayaca Tanager is blue gray in color with sky blue wings. The Sayaca Tanager can be distinguished from the similar Azure-shouldered Tanager (Thraupis cyanoptera) by its smaller size and the lack of an azure-blue shoulder patch.  Unlike many other tanager species, the Sayaca Tanager is tolerant of human altered environments and will colonize small isolated woodlots that can no longer support other frugivores.  Sayaca Tanagers forage mainly in the tops of trees in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4 individuals.  Although these tanagers mainly feed on fruit, they also will make aerial sallies for insects.  During the austral winter, the southernmost populations withdraw as far north as Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. 

16–17 cm; c. 28–34 g. A pale grey and blue tanager with rather short, fairly thick bill. Nominate race has head and upperparts uniformly dull grey, slightly tinged bluish (no contrast between head and back), throat and breast similar or very slightly paler and gradually fading to dull greyish-white on belly and almost white on undertail-coverts; lesser upperwing-coverts blue (often hidden), median coverts dusky, edged and tipped dull greenish-blue, greater coverts dusky, rather narrowly edged and tipped dull greenish-blue; primary coverts dusky, broadly tipped dull greenish-blue, flight-feathers dusky, edged greenish-blue, tertials greenish-blue with dusky to dusky bluish-green inner webs; tail dusky, tinged and faintly edged greenish-blue; iris dark brown; bill dusky grey, basal half paler blue-grey; legs horn-grey. Differs from T. episcopus mainly in slightly greyer plumage, with always grey (not white) lesser and median wing-coverts, and fringing on flight-feathers and tail more turquoise. Sexes similar. Immature is duller, darker and dingier than adult, and nearly identical to immature T. episcopus (separation even in hand problematic), both having greater wing-coverts tinged greenish-blue, dusky primary coverts, and distinct dull greenish-aqua edgings on flight-feathers. Race beniensis has lesser and median wing-coverts whitish, broadly edged blue-grey, and head slightly paler than back (plumage thus towards T. episcopus), but with greenish-blue wing edgings; obscura is much like nominate, but slightly darker.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

See T. episcopus, with which sometimes considered conspecific; reported vocal differences require confirmation. Race beniensis shares some plumage features and could therefore belong with T. episcopus, but in several other ways it is closer to present species; overlap, if any, with T. episcopus in N Bolivia requires investigation. With merging of Thraupis and Tangara, subspecies name boliviana becomes preoccupied; recently replaced by new name beniensis (1 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Three subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Wide range of dry to humid and mostly open or semi-open habitats, including light woodland, savanna with scattered trees, second growth, scrubby vegetation, trees along river margins, hedgerows, cultivated areas, parks, gardens and urban areas; less numerous in humid forest borders and upper canopy of forest. In SE Brazil roosts among leafy foliage in both quiet areas and noisy, high-traffic sites with human and vehicular traffic nearby. Lowlands to c. 1000 m, locally higher; to c. 3200 m (recorded to 3600 m) in Bolivian Andes, and common to 3000 m in Argentina.

Partially migratory in S Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and in Uruguay, Paraguay and most or all of Argentina; large numbers of migrants spend winter months in NE Bolivia (vicinity of Noel Kempff Mercado National Park) and, at least during Jun–Sept, are regularly seen in loose flocks. Undocumented sight records of this species in SE Peru could, if verified, refer to migratory race obscura.

Fruits, seeds, also buds and parts of tender leaves; some arthropods. Recording as eating 36 species of fruit in SE Brazil, and reported as eating fruits of Allophyllus edulis in Paraguay; feeds also on many commercially grown fruits, such as oranges, papayas (Carica papaya), palm fruits and figs (Ficus). Of 20 stomachs examined, twelve contained only vegetable matter and one only animal matter, and seven contained both; contents included fruit pulp, seeds of Cecropia, Ficus and Schinus, and also hymenopterans. Occurs in pairs when breeding, but at other times usually in groups of three or four individuals or up to several dozen, which may roost, loaf or gather together at fruiting trees; joins groups of other birds at fruiting trees, and sometimes found with mixed-species flocks. Forages mostly in upper part of trees, but regularly descends lower to fruiting trees and shrubs. Hops rapidly in foliage, sallies to air for insects, and inspects flowerheads; behaviour much as that of T. episcopus.

Song a high, squeaky and variable series of short, choppy phrases; songs complex, and may vary individually and geographically. Calls include sharp “chup” and higher “tzit”. Vocalizations much like those of T. episcopus.

Breeding dates mainly Oct–Dec in SC Brazil (Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso) and Paraguay, more widely scattered elsewhere, e.g. Sept–Jan and Apr in Rio de Janeiro and Sept–Feb in Rio Grande do Sul, and Nov in Bolivia; single-brooded at least in Paraguay. Probably monogamous, as partners roost close together on same branch, female usually arriving first. Nest built by female, apparently accompanied by male, a compact cup woven with grass, flower stems, rootlets and moss, sometimes covered with lichens, and hidden in thick foliage 1·5–9 m up in fork of outer limb of tree, frequently an isolated tree near habitation; in Paraguay nesting site often reused from one year to the next. Clutch 2 eggs, rarely 3, varying from yellowish-white to grey to greenish, heavily or lightly marked with shades of brown; incubation by female, period 12–14 days; chicks fed by both adults, leave nest within 20 days; juveniles may remain with adults for considerable length of time after fledging. Nests sometimes parasitized by Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis).

Not globally threatened. Widespread and common to locally abundant. Occurs in many protected areas and utilizes a wide range of second-growth and disturbed habitats, both urban and rural, which has allowed it to expand and increase in numbers almost throughout its range. Can become a pest in commercial fruit orchards.