The Arena Blanca Reserve, located in the buffer zone of the Alto Mayo Protected Forest, is recognized for the diversity of bird species it possesses and for the services to facilitate their observation; as part of this process, Tanager observatories have been implemented, a very colorful and representative species of the tropical Andes.
Tanagers
Tanagers are part of a very large family in the Americas that has 308 species in South America, most of them associated with the tropical forests of that continent; as a family it is very heterogeneous with only a few very distinguished groups with similar structure, color patterns, plumage, among other characteristics (Ber van Perlo, 2016).
Most tanagers are very colorful and have sexual dimorphism (males have more striking colors and forms). These species are present in all tropical habitats and are generally limited singers. Most tanagers eat fruits, and as a supplement they consume insects; honeycreepers and pintails also consume nectar and honey (Ber van Perlo, 2016).
The main groups of tanagers are:
Table 1: Groups of tanagers
● Cardinals ● Hemispingus ● Thypopsis Tanagers ● Tachyphonus Tanagers ● Thraupis Tanagers |
● Buthraupis Tanagers ● SwallowsTanagers ● Tanagers Tanagers ● Mieleros y Dacnis ● Pinchaflores |
Source: Ber van Perlo, 2016
Tanagers from the Arena Blanca Reserve
According to the list of Peruvian birds (Plenge, 2022), there are 190 species of tanagers in Peru and in the Arena Blanca Reserve up to 61 species of this family were recorded (Ebird, s.f.).
In this context, Norbil Becerra, manager of the Arena Blanca Reserve, set up tanager observatories, through the implementation of a feeder and planting of fruit trees preferred by the species, such as renacos and miconias, among others. Since these observatories were set up, the following tanager species and species from other families were recorded in photographs and videos during the year 2022.
Bibliography
Ber van Perlo, 2016. Birds of South America: Passerines (Princeton Illustrated Checklists).
Plenge, M. 2022. List of birds from Peru.
Ebird, s.f. List of birds from Arena Blanca Reserve.