The Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis, is a brilliantly multicolored, medium-sized songbird whose length varies between
13.5 and 15 cm. It has a light green head, sky blue underparts and black upper body plumage. Depending on subspecies,
the rump is yellow and red or all red. The beak is black and the legs are grey.

Found in humid tropical and subtropical forests in the western and northern Amazon Basin in South America, it occurs in
Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil and the Guianas. Despite its scientific name, it is not found in Chile.
The Paradise Tanager is common throughout its range.

Green-headed Tanager, Tangara seledon


Green-headed Tanager Tangara seledon
Photo: Dario Sanches

The Green-headed Tanager, Tangara seledon, is a bird found in Atlantic forest in south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay
and far north-eastern Argentina (Misiones only).

As other members of the genus Tangara, it is a small colorful bird, measuring an average of 13.5 centimeters.
While essentially a bird of humid forests, it is also common in orchards and parks, where it moves through the canopy,
making itself inconspicuous, as its apparently flashy blue-green coloration camouflages it well amongst the foliage.

It is also a regular attendant at bird tables, where its active behavior makes it far more conspicuous. Eats fruits and insects,
chasing the latter from a perch.

Canopy of a forest

For forests, canopy refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms (epiphytes, lianas, arboreal animals, etc).

Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent of the outer layer of leaves of an individual tree or group of trees. Shade trees normally have a dense canopy that blocks light from lower growing plants.

Dominant and co-dominant canopy trees form the uneven canopy layer. Canopy trees are able to photosynthesize relatively
rapidly due to abundant light, so it supports the majority of primary productivity in forests.[citation needed] The canopy layer
provides protection from strong winds and storms, while also intercepting sunlight and precipitation, leading to a relatively
sparsely vegetated understory layer.
Text and photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canopy_(biology)

Red-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanocephala Red-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanocephala Photo: Dario Sanches

The Red-necked Tanager, Tangara cyanocephala, is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.

It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and
heavily degraded former forest.

Golden Tanager, Tangara arthus Tangara arthus, Tierpark, Berlin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Goldtangare_2.jpg

The Golden Tanager, Tangara arthus, is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is widespread and often common in
highland forests of the Andes (from Bolivia and northwards) and Venezuelan Coastal Range in north-western South America.

Its plumage is overall golden-yellow with black to the back, wings, tail and ear-coverts. Some subspecies are partially/largely brown below.

Burnished-buff Tanager, Tangara cayana Burnished-buff Tanager, Tangara cayana Photo: © www.arthurgrosset.com

The Burnished-buff Tanager, Tangara cayana, also known as the Rufous-crowned Tanager, is a common South American
species of bird in the Thraupidae family.

It is found in the northern Guianas, most of Venezuela and east-central Colombia; also near the Amazon River outlet in Brazil,
as well as most of the east of that country, Paraguay and northeast Argentina. It also occurs very locally in Bolivia and Peru.
It can be seen in virtually any semi-open habitat with trees, including human-altered habitats such as gardens, plantations and
parks.

There are several subspecies of the Burnished-buff Tanager, them falling into two main groups: The northern and western
cayana group, and the southern and eastern flava group (the subspecies huberi from Marajó Island is intermediate between
the two main groups). Males of the cayana group have an orange-rufous crown, black mask, and cream underparts distinctly
tinged blue on the throat and chest. Males of the flava group have an orange-buff crown, and buff underparts with a black
patch extending from the mask, over the throat and central chest, to the mid-belly. Males of both groups have turquoise wings
and tail. Females are duller than the males, and have black restricted to a poorly demarcated "shadow" of a mask.

Brazilian pepper-tree is a shrub or small tree that reaches over 30 feet in height, typically with a short trunk hidden in a thicket of branches. Some trees can live over 30 years. The leaves are alternately arranged with 1-2 inch long, elliptic, and finely toothed leaflets. The leaves are also reddish, often possessing a reddish mid-rib. The flower clusters are white and 2-3 inches long with male and female flowers that look very similar. The glossy fruits are borne in clusters that are initially green, becoming bright red when ripe. Seeds are dark brown and 0.3 mm in diameter. Flowering occurs from September through November and fruits are usually mature by December. Text and pictures: © http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/405

It is a generally common, and usually seen singly or in pairs. As all tanagers, it is a largely frugivorous species, being particularly
fond of the fruits of the native Cecropia and Brazilian Pepper as well as that of introduced Magnoliaceae such as Michelia
champaca.

Gilt-edged Tanager, Tangara cyanoventris Gilt-edged Tanager, Tangara cyanoventris Photo: © www.arthurgrosset.com

The Gilt-edged Tanager, Tangara cyanoventris, is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests,
and heavily degraded former forest. They inhabit forest and secondary growth as well as clearings and tend to be found
between 500 and 1,000 metres asl.

They are golden-yellow above with heavy black streaks on the back and lighter black streaks on the crown. Underparts are mostly turquoise moving to green on the lower belly and yellow on the lower flanks. The forehead and throat are black.
Source: © www.arthurgrosset.com

Brassy-breasted Tanager, Tangara desmarestis Brassy-breasted Tanager Tangara desmaresti Photo: © www.arthurgrosset.com

The Brassy-breasted Tanager is a Brazilian endemic found in and on the edges of the Atlantic Rain Forest of south-east Brazil.
It forages for fruit and insects in the canopies of trees and is often in small groups of about a dozen individuals.

It is emerald green with black streaks above with a black round the bill and turquoise on the forecrown and round the eyes.
There is a dark patch on the throat while the breast is brassy ochre and the belly is bright green with a yellow line down the
centre of the belly.
Source: © www.arthurgrosset.com