<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360379'>Olive-green Tanager
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En bref
- Scientific Name: Orthogonys chloricterus
- Spanish Name: Tangara olivácea
- Family: Mitrospingidae
- Known Nicknames: Olive-green Tanager
- Average Length: 18–19 cm / 7.1–7.5 in
- Average Weight: 35–45 g / 1.2–1.6 oz
- Envergure : N/A
- Key Feature: Uniform olive-green plumage with a slightly darker wings and tail
- Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore and Insectivore
- Range: Southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo to Santa Catarina) and adjacent Argentina (Misiones)
- Habitat: Montane Atlantic Forest, forest edges, and secondary growth
- Social Structure: Social, often found in small flocks or mixed-species feeding flocks
- Nesting/Breeding: Open cup nest placed in a tree fork
- Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
- Évolution démographique : En baisse
The Olive-green Tanager (*Orthogonys chloricterus*) is a striking and elusive songbird endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, distinguished by its unique, nearly monochromatic plumage of rich, uniform olive-green that is subtly brighter on the underparts. A standout feature is its thick, pale bluish-gray bill, which contrasts sharply with its dark face and gives it a slightly top-heavy profile. Unlike many tanagers, this species often forages in noisy, fast-moving mixed-species flocks high in the canopy, and it possesses a distinctive, buzzy call that helps birders locate it amidst the dense foliage. Its special adaptation includes a preference for bamboo thickets and forest edges, where its cryptic coloration provides excellent camouflage, making it a rewarding but challenging sight for dedicated birdwatchers.
Faits amusants
The Olive-green Tanager, despite its drab name, has a bizarre habit of performing a "wing-flutter" display during courtship, where it vibrates its wings so rapidly they become a blur, often while hanging upside-down like a bat. It also possesses a specially adapted, slightly hooked bill that allows it to pry open bamboo stems to extract hidden insects—a niche feeding strategy rare among tanagers. Uniquely, this species is one of the few birds that actively forages alongside army ant swarms in the Atlantic Forest, snatching fleeing prey with a fearless, almost acrobatic agility.
Habitats et répartition
The Olive-green Tanager is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, with its range concentrated in the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and northern Rio Grande do Sul. It primarily inhabits montane and submontane humid forests, often found in the canopy and edges of mature secondary growth, from sea level up to about 1,800 meters in elevation. It also occurs in adjacent disturbed habitats such as forest fragments, plantations, and gardens, as long as some tree cover remains.
Comportements & Reproduction
The olive-green tanager is a highly social bird, typically observed in small, cohesive flocks of up to a dozen individuals. Its social structure revolves around a monogamous pair bond that is maintained across multiple breeding seasons, with both mates cooperating in all aspects of reproduction. Courtship involves the male performing a series of soft, whistled calls and a fluttering display near the female, often accompanied by offering food items. Nesting occurs in dense foliage, where the pair constructs a cup-shaped nest from plant fibers and moss. The female lays a clutch of two to three pale eggs, which she incubates alone for roughly two weeks. A unique reproductive strategy is the presence of cooperative breeding: non-breeding helpers, often offspring from previous broods, assist the parents in feeding the nestlings and defending the territory, significantly increasing fledgling survival rates in this Neotropical species.
Alimentation
The Olive-green Tanager (Orthogonys chloricterus) is primarily frugivorous, with a diet heavily centered on small, soft fruits and berries sourced from the forest canopy and edge. It also consumes a significant portion of arthropods, including insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage and bark, especially during the breeding season to meet higher protein demands. An interesting dietary fact is that this species is known to frequently visit fruiting trees that are also exploited by other tanager species and even monkeys, suggesting a degree of opportunistic feeding and social foraging. Additionally, while not a primary component, they have been observed taking nectar from flowers on occasion, supplementing their sugar intake when fruit is scarce.
Couleurs
The Olive-green Tanager is predominantly olive-green above and paler yellowish-olive below, with a slightly brighter yellow throat and belly. It lacks bold markings, but notable features include a thin, dark mask through the eye and a faint, dusky wash on the wings and tail. This uniform, muted coloration provides excellent camouflage in the dappled light of its humid forest canopy habitat.
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