The Puerto Rican tanager (Nesospingus speculiferus) is a small passerine bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico. It is the only member of the genus Nesospingus and has historically been placed in the tanager family, but recent studies indicate it as either belonging in its own family Nesospingidae or as being a member of Phaenicophilidae. Its closest relatives are likely the spindalises (family Spindalidae, sometimes also considered a member of the Phaenicophilidae).[2] The Puerto Rican tanager is known to locals as llorosa, which means 'cryer'.
The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine, typically measuring between 18 and 20 cm (7–8 in) in length and weighing around 36 g. Both males and females are olive-brown above with pale grey to white underparts. Adults typically have faint dusky striping on the beast and pure white throats. Adults also have a conspicuous white spot on the wing and a dark crown and face which obscures the eye.[3] Undertail coverts are pale fulvous. Males have a brown-black maxilla and white mandible and females have entirely black bills. Immatures are similar in appearance to adults, but are brownish underneath and lack the white wing spot.
Voiceedit
The most frequently heard noise emitted by the Puerto Rican tanager is a harsh call note often described as a chewp or chuck. This is often heard while feeding in flocks and may be extended into a longer chi-chi-chit of varying lengths. The breeding song of the species is light, sweet rapidly sung tswet-tswet-tswet-tswet. Other interaction calls include a soft sigh similar to a heavy exhale and a light tsip-tsip-tsip.[3]
Behavioredit
Puerto Rican tanagers are known to roost communally in large bamboo clumps or palms.[3][4] They are typically the nucleus species in mixed feeding flocks, especially in the winter when neotropical migrants are present in Puerto Rico. During the breeding season, tanagers become very territorial and defend nesting territories.[5] Puerto Rican tanagers are strong flyers, but don't often fly long distances, preferring to make short flights through the canopy or brush.
Feedingedit
Puerto Rican tanagers feed mainly on invertebrates and fruits.[6][7] The species has been reported to occasionally consume lizards and the nestling of other birds, but most of its diet consists of spiders, insects, centipedes, snails, and various fruits.[6] Fruit consumption is determined by season, but they often feed on fruits of the genus Cecropia and Clusia.[7]Eleutherodactylustree frogs, such as the common coquí, are also an important component of the Puerto Rican tanager's diet.[6]
Breedingedit
Clumps of bamboo in a Puerto Rican subtropical wet forest. Typical roosting habitat for the Puerto Rican tanager.
The breeding season lasts from January to late-July, though individuals have been recorded breeding at other times of the year.[3][5] During this time the males become strongly territorial. Nests are located at the ends of branches 2–10 m off the ground and are usually cup-shaped and approximately 9.2 cm across. They are typically constructed of vines, ferns, roots, and palm fibers and lined with feathers and palm leaves. Females have a clutch of two or three elliptical white eggs with reddish-brown splotches.[5]
The Puerto Rican tanager is restricted to mid- to high-elevation (300–1350 m) montane forests on the island of Puerto Rico.[3] It typically inhabits mature and second growth montane subtropical rain and wet forests, as well as subtropical lower montane forests.[10] Much of the population is concentrated on the eastern and western sides of the central cordillera of Puerto Rico, with populations in El Yunque National Forest and Maricao State Forest. Deforestation has contributed to fragmentation of the population, which once stretched across the entire central cordillera, but is now confined to the preserved areas and higher peaks.
Referencesedit
External audio
Bird Call
Puerto Rican tanager vocals with coqui in background
^BirdLife International (2022). "Nesospingus speculiferus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22722159A209284090. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
^Oliveros, C.H.; et al. (2019). "Earth history and the passerine superradiation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. 116 (16): 7916–7925. doi:10.1073/pnas.1813206116. PMC6475423. PMID 30936315.
^ abcdeRaffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
^Wetmore, A. 1927. The Birds of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. New York Academy of Sciences Scientific Survey Of Porto Rico and Virgin Islands 9(3&4): 254-406.
^ abcPérez-Rivera, R. A. 1993. Notes on the Breeding of the Puerto Rican Tanager (Nesospingus speculiferus). Caribbean Journal of Science 29(3-4): 262-264.
^ abcPérez-Rivera, R. A. 1997. The Importance of vertebrates in the diet of tanagers. Journal of Field Ornithology. 68(2): 178-182.
^ abCarlo, A. T., Collazo, A. J., and Groom, J. M. 2004 Influences of Fruit Diversity and Abundance in Bird Use of Two Shade Coffe Plantations. Biotropica 36(4): 602-614.
^Wetmore, A. 1922. Bird remains from the caves of Puerto Rico. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 46: 297-333.
^Delannoy, A. C., Cruz, A. 1999. Patterns of Prey Abundance and Use by Male and Female Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawks. Caribbean Journal of Science 35(1-2): 38-45.
^Collazo, A. J., Bonilla-Martínez, G. I. 1988. Comparación de la riqueza de aves entre plantaciones de pino hondureño (Pinus caribaea) y areas de bosque nativo en el Bosque Estatal de Carite, Cayey, Puerto Rico 24(1-2): 1-10.
January 01, 1970
puerto, rican, tanager, nesospingus, speculiferus, small, passerine, bird, endemic, archipelago, puerto, rico, only, member, genus, nesospingus, historically, been, placed, tanager, family, recent, studies, indicate, either, belonging, family, nesospingidae, b. The Puerto Rican tanager Nesospingus speculiferus is a small passerine bird endemic to the archipelago of Puerto Rico It is the only member of the genus Nesospingus and has historically been placed in the tanager family but recent studies indicate it as either belonging in its own family Nesospingidae or as being a member of Phaenicophilidae Its closest relatives are likely the spindalises family Spindalidae sometimes also considered a member of the Phaenicophilidae 2 The Puerto Rican tanager is known to locals as llorosa which means cryer Puerto Rican tanager Conservation status Vulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Superfamily Emberizoidea Family NesospingidaeBarker Burns Klicka Lanyon amp Lovette 2013 Genus NesospingusP L Sclater 1885 Species N speculiferus Binomial name Nesospingus speculiferus Lawrence 1875 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Identification 1 2 Voice 2 Behavior 2 1 Feeding 2 2 Breeding 2 3 Predators 3 Distribution and habitat 4 ReferencesDescription editIdentification edit The Puerto Rican tanager is a small passerine typically measuring between 18 and 20 cm 7 8 in in length and weighing around 36 g Both males and females are olive brown above with pale grey to white underparts Adults typically have faint dusky striping on the beast and pure white throats Adults also have a conspicuous white spot on the wing and a dark crown and face which obscures the eye 3 Undertail coverts are pale fulvous Males have a brown black maxilla and white mandible and females have entirely black bills Immatures are similar in appearance to adults but are brownish underneath and lack the white wing spot Voice edit The most frequently heard noise emitted by the Puerto Rican tanager is a harsh call note often described as a chewp or chuck This is often heard while feeding in flocks and may be extended into a longer chi chi chit of varying lengths The breeding song of the species is light sweet rapidly sung tswet tswet tswet tswet Other interaction calls include a soft sigh similar to a heavy exhale and a light tsip tsip tsip 3 Behavior editPuerto Rican tanagers are known to roost communally in large bamboo clumps or palms 3 4 They are typically the nucleus species in mixed feeding flocks especially in the winter when neotropical migrants are present in Puerto Rico During the breeding season tanagers become very territorial and defend nesting territories 5 Puerto Rican tanagers are strong flyers but don t often fly long distances preferring to make short flights through the canopy or brush Feeding edit Puerto Rican tanagers feed mainly on invertebrates and fruits 6 7 The species has been reported to occasionally consume lizards and the nestling of other birds but most of its diet consists of spiders insects centipedes snails and various fruits 6 Fruit consumption is determined by season but they often feed on fruits of the genus Cecropia and Clusia 7 Eleutherodactylus tree frogs such as the common coqui are also an important component of the Puerto Rican tanager s diet 6 Breeding edit nbsp Clumps of bamboo in a Puerto Rican subtropical wet forest Typical roosting habitat for the Puerto Rican tanager The breeding season lasts from January to late July though individuals have been recorded breeding at other times of the year 3 5 During this time the males become strongly territorial Nests are located at the ends of branches 2 10 m off the ground and are usually cup shaped and approximately 9 2 cm across They are typically constructed of vines ferns roots and palm fibers and lined with feathers and palm leaves Females have a clutch of two or three elliptical white eggs with reddish brown splotches 5 Predators edit Communal roosting makes the species an easy target for owls on the island such as the Puerto Rican owl 8 They are also a common prey item of the Puerto Rican sharp shinned hawk 9 Distribution and habitat editThe Puerto Rican tanager is restricted to mid to high elevation 300 1350 m montane forests on the island of Puerto Rico 3 It typically inhabits mature and second growth montane subtropical rain and wet forests as well as subtropical lower montane forests 10 Much of the population is concentrated on the eastern and western sides of the central cordillera of Puerto Rico with populations in El Yunque National Forest and Maricao State Forest Deforestation has contributed to fragmentation of the population which once stretched across the entire central cordillera but is now confined to the preserved areas and higher peaks References editExternal audioBird Call nbsp Puerto Rican tanager vocals with coqui in background BirdLife International 2022 Nesospingus speculiferus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022 e T22722159A209284090 Retrieved 26 July 2022 Oliveros C H et al 2019 Earth history and the passerine superradiation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States 116 16 7916 7925 doi 10 1073 pnas 1813206116 PMC 6475423 PMID 30936315 a b c d e Raffaele H J Wiley O Garrido A Keith and J Raffaele 1998 A guide to the birds of the West Indies Princeton University Press Princeton New Jersey Wetmore A 1927 The Birds of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands New York Academy of Sciences Scientific Survey Of Porto Rico and Virgin Islands 9 3 amp 4 254 406 a b c Perez Rivera R A 1993 Notes on the Breeding of the Puerto Rican Tanager Nesospingus speculiferus Caribbean Journal of Science 29 3 4 262 264 a b c Perez Rivera R A 1997 The Importance of vertebrates in the diet of tanagers Journal of Field Ornithology 68 2 178 182 a b Carlo A T Collazo A J and Groom J M 2004 Influences of Fruit Diversity and Abundance in Bird Use of Two Shade Coffe Plantations Biotropica 36 4 602 614 Wetmore A 1922 Bird remains from the caves of Puerto Rico Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 46 297 333 Delannoy A C Cruz A 1999 Patterns of Prey Abundance and Use by Male and Female Puerto Rican Sharp shinned Hawks Caribbean Journal of Science 35 1 2 38 45 Collazo A J Bonilla Martinez G I 1988 Comparacion de la riqueza de aves entre plantaciones de pino hondureno Pinus caribaea y areas de bosque nativo en el Bosque Estatal de Carite Cayey Puerto Rico 24 1 2 1 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Puerto Rican tanager amp oldid 1222403650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
