Trinidad: Palm Tanager - Thraupis palmarum

The Palm Tanager, Thraupis palmarum, is a close relative of the Blue-gray Tanager, and is probably even more common. The Palm has a range that extends from Nicaragua to souther Brazil. Breeding by the Palm Tanager has been documented in every month (ffrench), but occurs mostly from Maarch to August. Wild hybrids with the Blue-gray Tanager have been documented. Male and females have similar plumage.

The Palm Tanager is far from the showiest bird in the tanager family, sporting a dull mixture of olives and grays, with the darkest grays on the flight feathers and tail. They are social birds, sometimes foraging in small flocks, while eating a variety of fruit, nectar and insects. There are 4 subspecies in all. As mentioned recently the genus Thraupis has seven members, with 3 found on Trinidad-tobago. The Blue-capped Tanager is the 3rd of the group on Trinidad, but is found only in forests above 2,000', and is not seen often.