SANHAÇO-CINZENTO (AS KNOWN IN BRAZIL)

Thraupis sayaca

The Sayaca Tanager is undoubtedly the most common tanager in Brazil. It
measures between 6,2 and 7,4 inches and weighs from 1 to 1,5 ounces. It has an
overall gray coloration, with turquoise-blue wings and tail. Its song is long,
punctuated by the sounds of high and low notes. The species' song can vary from
one location to another.
It typically consumes a variety of fruits like berries, leaves, buds, eucalyptus
flowers, and insects caught in flight. The nest, constructed by the pair, is compact
and made of small roots, moss, and leaf stems. The female lays 2 to 3 white eggs
with brown markings, and the incubation period lasts 12 to 14 days. The couple
feeds the chicks, which leave the nest after 20 days.
It is almost always seen in pairs or small flocks. It is also observed with another
species from its family, like the Palm Tanager, whose song is similar. The Sayaca
Tanager is quite active and often is afraid of humans. It inhabits open woodlands,
groves, riparian forests, farming areas, and even urban gardens and parks. It is
spotted in tropical and subtropical regions south of the Amazon and east of the
Andes.