The Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) is a bird with an approximate length of 18 cm and a weight of 25 grams. Adult males showcase velvety crimson-black plumage, featuring a deep crimson throat and breast. While the upper beak is black, the enlarged lower beak is an almost luminous, bright silver.
DISTRIBUTION: Commonly found in Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Bolivia, Central Brazil,Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana Suriname, Trinidad and Venezuela (IUCN, 2016). The totaldistribution range for the silver beaked tanager is 11,500,000 km2.The geographic distribution of this species is shown in Fig.
HABITAT AND ACTIVITY: Males in the breeding period display territoriality by using a dawn song that signifies breeding territory up to a 10m radius. The tanagers can be found along roadsides in a thick low canopy of trees and shrubs and gardens near water. The nests are built by the females that take care of the eggs and young within a 20-25 day period. The males when mating have a territorial defence but otherwise, these birds do not mark any territory. Their daily activities involve foraging, singing, taking care of their young or occasionally attracting a female for mating. These birds do not migrate but they do stay within their boundary.
FOOD AND FEEDING: The tanagers are omnivores and they forage for insects, fruits vines and flowers. The tanager forages nervously, flicking its tail and wings. When the tanager feeds on fruits, they peck out huge pieces and crush it to appropriate sizes for consumption.By hopping and peering through foliage the tanagers find insects and once they see any they rapidly dart forward and capture their prey. This species can be found feeding on short grass along roadsides, weeds and farming areas. The type of trees they feed on are second-growth
trees and shrubs.Since these birds feed in tropical areas, vegetation and insects are in abundance and food is not scarce. The tanagers being omnivores are not limited to food resources.
BEHAVIOUR: These birds flick their wings and tails before flight. The tanager has an abrupt take off and flies in a rhythmic pattern from tree to tree. When a predator is nearby, the tanager has either an upright or crouching posture while it stares at its opponent quietly. In the process of looking for food, the tanagers search from the ground up to 25m. This species has claws that grasp onto tree branches. They hang upside down occasionally to feed on nearby fruits.They also have a communicating call named “cheeng”.
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