TIÊ-SANGUE (AS KNOWN IN BRAZIL)

Ramphocelus bresilia

The Brazilian Tanager is considered the majesty of the Atlantic Forest, so much so
that it's the symbolic bird of this biome. The Brazilian Tanager is also known as
tingê, sangue-de-boi, and tiê-fogo, in Brazil. It's a visual spectacle that captures the
attention of those who spot it. Its plumage is of an imperial, vivid, and shining red,
which gave rise to its name in Portuguese (which translates to blood-colored
tanager). Parts of its wings and tail are black, creating a beautiful contrast with its
reddish body. It measures between 7 and 7,4 inches and weighs between 0,9 and
1,25 ounces. Its song is a melodic and trisyllabic warble, often repeated
unhurriedly. Sometimes, several individuals vocalize together.
Being frugivorous, it has a preference for the fruits of the embaúba tree and
bananas. It also feeds on insects and worms. It reproduces in spring and summer.
It builds its nest in the shape of a basket, often lined with materials like palm fiber,
sisal fiber, coconut fiber, and grass roots. The female lays 2 or 3 glossy blue-green
eggs with black speckles, with an incubation period of 13 days.
The Brazilian Tanager is an endemic species of Brazil, being spotted throughout
the entire Atlantic Forest, from Rio Grande do Norte to Rio Grande do Sul.