White-lined Tanager

En bref

  • Scientific Name: Tachyphonus rufus
  • Spanish Name: Tangara de líneas blancas
  • Famille : Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: White-shouldered Tanager, Fulvous-crested Tanager
  • Average Length: 16–18 cm / 6.3–7.1 in
  • Average Weight: 28–40 g / 1.0–1.4 oz
  • Wingspan: 25–30 cm / 9.8–11.8 in
  • Key Feature: Black body with a white patch on the shoulder (male) or rufous-brown body (female)
  • Primary Diet: Omnivore (fruits, insects, nectar)
  • Range: Costa Rica and Panama through northern South America to Bolivia, Brazil, and the Guianas
  • Habitat: Forest edges, secondary growth, clearings, and gardens
  • Social Structure: Social (often in pairs or small groups, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks)
  • Nidification/Reproduction : Nid en forme de coupe situé dans une fourche d'arbre ou un arbuste
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The White-lined Tanager (*Tachyphonus rufus*) is a striking passerine bird found in the lowland forests and second-growth woodlands of South America, from Colombia to northern Argentina. The male is a bold, glossy black with a bright white stripe along each wing—its namesake—and a small white patch at the base of the primary feathers, while the female is a warm, rich rufous-brown overall, lacking the white wing markings. A unique feature is the male’s subtle but iridescent blue-black sheen on its body, which contrasts sharply with its pale, almost bluish bill and dark legs. Unlike many tanagers, this species is often seen in pairs or small family groups, foraging actively for fruit and insects in the understory, and it is known for its loud, sharp *chek* call that echoes through its habitat.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the male White-lined Tanager is almost entirely glossy black, with its only white markings being a hidden patch on its shoulder that flashes during courtship or aggression—a secret signal. This bird has a quirky habit of following army ant swarms not to eat the ants, but to catch insects and small lizards fleeing the chaos, often in mixed-species flocks. Uniquely, it builds a deep, cup-shaped nest that is so well-hidden in dense foliage that ornithologists frequently overlook it, and both parents share the task of feeding their young with a regurgitated fruit-and-insect paste.

Habitats et répartition

The White-lined Tanager occupies a broad geographical range across South America, from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and much of Brazil, extending south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. It is also found on Trinidad and Tobago. Its preferred habitat includes a variety of semi-open to open environments, such as forest edges, secondary growth, clearings with shrubs, plantations, gardens, and gallery forests. It generally avoids the interior of dense primary rainforest, instead thriving in disturbed or edge areas, often near water sources. It is common in lowlands and foothills up to about 1,500 meters in elevation.

Comportements & Reproduction

The White-lined Tanager is typically observed in pairs or small family groups, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks, which suggests a social structure centered on a stable monogamous bond. Mating involves the male performing a courtship display where he raises his crown feathers and fans his tail to show the contrasting white wing linings, while singing a series of sharp notes to attract a female. Reproduction is seasonal, with the pair constructing a deep cup-shaped nest from plant fibers and leaves, usually hidden in dense foliage or a thorny bush. The female lays two to three pale eggs with dark speckles, and both parents share incubation duties for about 13–14 days, followed by cooperative feeding of the chicks. A unique strategy is their frequent reuse of old nests or appropriation of abandoned ones from other species, reducing energy expenditure on construction and allowing faster renesting if a first brood fails.

Alimentation

The White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) has a highly varied diet that is primarily frugivorous and insectivorous, with a notable preference for fruit. It actively forages in the mid-canopy and understory, often plucking small berries, figs, and other soft fruits from trees and shrubs. A particularly interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its strong attraction to army ant swarms, where it acts as a follower, catching insects, spiders, and other arthropods flushed by the ants—a strategy that provides a protein-rich supplement to its fruit-based meals. Additionally, it has been observed visiting banana and other fruit feeders at forest edges and occasionally consuming flower nectar, showcasing its adaptability in exploiting diverse food sources within its tropical habitat.

Couleurs

The male White-lined Tanager is mostly glossy black with a prominent white stripe on the shoulder (the "white line") and a white patch under the tail; the female is entirely rich rufous-brown with a slightly paler throat and no black or white markings. Both sexes have a stout, dark bill and lack any camouflage adaptations, relying instead on their sharp contrast in dense forest understory.