BICO-DE-VELUDO (AS KNOWN IN BRAZIL)

Schistochlamys ruficapillus

The Cinnamon Tanager has a soft and melodious song. It can be found in savannas, arid regions, high-altitude grasslands, gardens, and above the forest line. It lives alone or in pairs, perched on low bushes, often in open areas. It occasionally joins mixed flocks and perches atop small trees to sing.

It measures about 7 inches in length and weighs an ounce. The plumage on its back is bluish gray, with a black mask on its face. The throat, chest, and belly are streaked. The lower belly is white-gray, and the beak of this bird is robust, gray, and tipped with black. It feeds on seeds, fruits, and small insects. It particularly enjoys the fruits of the tapia tree.

The Cinnamon Tanager lays two to three eggs, with an incubation period of 13 days. The chicks leave the nest and become independent 35 to 40 days after hatching.

It can be found in Brazil, in the states of Maranhão, Pará, Bahia, Pernambuco, Tocantins, and Piauí. In the Central-West region, it can be spotted in Mato Grosso and Goiás. In the Southeast, it’s commonly located in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo. In the Southern region, it's seen in Paraná and Santa Catarina.