Blue Tanager

Scientific Name:

Ihraupis cyanocephala. The bird belongs to the large family of small sub-tropical birds. It is the sole representative of the genus named Cyanicterus.

Origin: North western areas of South America

The bird is very hardy in nature and is perfect for an out door aviary. The bird thrives well in winter if kept in an outdoor snow proof aviary. Most tanagers can be easily tamed and they love to pick up mealworms from the hands of their owners. They are very fond of bathing and a small pool affords endless pleasure and cleans the plumage off from the food pieces and droppings.

Description:

Size: 20 cm (71/2 in).

COCK:

Head: cobalt-blue. Back, wings and tail:black. Underparts: dark blue. Shoulders: golden-green. Forehead and eyes: black. Rump: yellow. Beak: black. Legs: darkhorn.

HEN:

The hen and the cock are almost similar in appearance. The plumage of the female is dull and greyer compared to the male. The bird behavior gives the best indication of sex.

The bule tanager is usually found in pair or in groups. During the breeding season the male produces beautiful song to attract the female.

Diet: (Softbill)

Soft fruits, apples, grapes, oranges, pears and bananas form a large part of the basic diet. Fine grade insectile mix should be sprinkled on the fruit. Sponge cake soaked in nectar mixture is enjoyed. Meal worms, well cleaned maggots, smooth, green caterpillars, grasshoppers and spiders are ideal live food.

Blue Tanager Breeding: If breeding, remove this bird to a secluded, well planted aviary of its own. Wicker nest baskets should be hung in bushes in which a pair builds its open cup shaped nest of dry grasses and roots. Two eggs form the normal clutch and the incubation period lasts 14 days. Only the hen sits on the eggs. Cock and hen both feed the chicks until they fledge between three and four weeks of age. The parents must be provided with plenty of insects, smooth caterpillars, spiders, flies and locusts. Soft fruit, sponge cake soaked in honey mixture, finely chopped figs and dates, raisins, currants and sultanas are enjoyed. Crumbled rusks may also be mixed with fruits. Grated carrot soaked stale bread and milk may be given. Grit, ground eggshells and some green food should also be fed.

As soon as the young are able to feed themselves, they should he separated from their parents before any further breeding takes place, or they may be attacked. Cock birds become mature at about one year of age.

Natural Habitat:

The natural habitat of the bird extends from the Southern part of Mexico to the northern region of the Amazon basin. The bird is accustomed to live in a natural habitat of semi open region. Most of the time, the bird spends its time in the ground searching for fruit pieces and small insects.

The bird is presently facing extinction threat due to rapid process of deforestation. The bird’s eggs and the chicks are also an easy prey for crocodiles, felines, predatory birds, snakes and such.