<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360646'>White-banded Tanager

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Neothraupis fasciata
  • Spanish Name: Tangara de bandas blancas
  • Famille : Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: Shrike-like Tanager, White-banded Shrike-Tanager
  • Average Length: 16–18 cm / 6.3–7.1 in
  • Average Weight: 35–50 g / 1.2–1.8 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Broad white band across the black chest and belly
  • Régime alimentaire principal : Principalement insectivore
  • Range: Central Brazil to eastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay
  • Habitat: Cerrado savanna and dry woodland (campo cerrado)
  • Social Structure: Social, often in small groups or mixed-species flocks
  • Nidification/Reproduction : Nid en forme de coupe ouverte dans la fourche d'un arbre
  • Statut de conservation : Quasi menacé (NT)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The White-banded Tanager (*Neothraupis fasciata*) is a striking and unique bird endemic to the cerrado savannas of central South America, notable for being the sole member of its genus. Its general appearance is boldly patterned: a mostly gray body contrasted by a jet-black face, throat, and wings, with a crisp, broad white band across the wing coverts that gives the species its name. A special feature is its cooperative breeding system, where young males from previous broods often stay to help raise new chicks, a rare behavior among tanagers. Additionally, it is an accomplished mimic, frequently incorporating the calls of other birds into its own song, making it a standout vocalist in its dry, open grassland habitat.

Faits amusants

The white-banded tanager is a master of cooperative breeding, with young males from previous broods often staying behind to help raise their siblings, acting as dedicated "helpers at the nest." It has a quirky, almost comical habit of clinging upside-down to thin branches to pry off bark and hunt for insects, a foraging style more typical of woodcreepers. Remarkably, it is the only member of its genus, Neothraupis, making it a unique evolutionary oddball found exclusively in the Brazilian Cerrado. To defend its territory, it engages in "wing-flicking" displays, rapidly flashing its namesake white wing bands as a visual warning to intruders.

Habitats et répartition

The White-banded Tanager is primarily found in the cerrado savanna ecoregion of central South America. It inhabits open, dry woodlands, scrubby grasslands with scattered trees, and areas of dense, low-stature vegetation known as *campo sujo* and *campo cerrado*. These birds avoid dense, humid forests and are instead associated with seasonally dry, fire-prone landscapes. Its geographical range extends across central and eastern Brazil, from southern Maranhão and Piauí south through Goiás, Minas Gerais, and into São Paulo, with isolated populations also recorded in northeastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguay.

Comportements & Reproduction

White-banded Tanagers exhibit a cooperative breeding system, living in small, stable groups typically consisting of a dominant breeding pair and one to three non-breeding helpers, often their offspring from previous broods. These helpers assist in defending the territory, feeding the incubating female, and provisioning nestlings. Mating is monogamous within the breeding pair, and the female builds a cup-shaped nest in a low tree or shrub, where she lays two to three eggs. A unique aspect of their reproductive strategy is the high degree of helper involvement, which increases fledgling survival rates in the species' fire-prone cerrado habitat. The incubation period lasts about 13 days, and after hatching, both the parents and helpers feed the young for several weeks until they fledge and gradually disperse.

Alimentation

The White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata) is primarily an insectivore, with its diet heavily dominated by a wide variety of arthropods, including beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, which it actively forages for by gleaning from foliage and bark in the mid-story and canopy of the Brazilian Cerrado. Interestingly, it exhibits a specialized foraging strategy often associated with ant-following behavior, where it frequently accompanies army ant swarms to capture insects flushed by the ants, a trait more common among antbirds than tanagers. While insects make up the vast majority of its intake, it will also opportunistically consume small fruits and berries, particularly during the non-breeding season when insect prey may be less abundant. Another notable dietary fact is that adults have been observed feeding their chicks almost exclusively on large, soft-bodied insect larvae, suggesting a high-protein requirement for rapid nestling development.

Couleurs

The White-banded Tanager is predominantly a soft gray above, fading to paler gray or whitish below. Its most distinctive feature is a bold, broad white band across the chest, bordered above by a narrow black crescent. The wings and tail are dark brown to blackish, with white tips on the wing coverts forming a subtle wing patch. The face is black, creating a striking mask around the bill and eyes. It lacks specific camouflage adaptations, as its contrasting pattern is likely for social signaling in open cerrado habitats.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.

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Featured places

  • Cerrado à l'est de la ville (Riberalta)
  • Dernière observation des oiseaux autour de Riberalta