Provided by American Bird Conservancy
The aptly named Grass-green Tanager is the only member of its genus, Chloronis, a Greek word derived from khloros (green) and ornis (bird). In Spanish its common name is Tangara Lorito, "little parrot tanager." Whatever the language, this bird of the Andes is an unmistakable sight: an intense green with chestnut mask and undertail accented by bright red legs, feet, and bill.
Although not endemic or endangered like the
https://abcbirds.org/bird/cherry-throated-tanager/">Cherry-throated Tanager, the Grass-green Tanager is still vulnerable to
https://abcbirds.org/threat/habitat/">habitat loss caused by land clearing for farming, grazing, logging, and human settlement.
Fruit Masher
Grass-green Tanagers can often be found in pairs or small groups of three to six individuals. Like other South American tanagers, including
https://abcbirds.org/bird/gilt-edged-tanager/">Gilt-edged Tanager and
https://abcbirds.org/bird/green-headed-tanager/">Green-headed Tanager, it also joins mixed-species feeding flocks, moving through the low- to mid-story of the forest in search of fruit and insects.
The Grass-green Tanager also shares with other tanagers the behavior of plucking berries while perching or clinging, rather than on the wing. The birds mash larger or tough-skinned fruits with their bills to get at the pulp inside, discarding the skin.
Although not a long-distance seasonal migrant like the
https://abcbirds.org/bird/scarlet-tanager/">Scarlet Tanager, Grass-green Tanagers may wander widely in search of fruiting trees.
Forming a Family
The female incubates her clutch alone, although the male may bring her food while she sits on the nest and helps feed the hatchlings until they fledge. Young birds may stay with the parents for months after fledging, forming a small family group.
Care through Conservation
Grass-green Tanagers can be seen at many American Bird Conservancy-supported
https://abcbirds.org/program/reserves/">reserves throughout the Andes, including Ecuador's
https://abcbirds.org/program/reserves/tapichalaca-reserve/">Tapichalaca Reserves and Peru's
https://abcbirds.org/program/reserves/abra-patricia-reserve/">Abra Patricia Reserve, managed by partner groups
http://www.fjocotoco.org/">Fundación Jocotoco and
http://www.ecoanperu.org/">ECOAN respectively.
In addition to providing habitat for rare birds like
https://abcbirds.org/el-oro-parakeet">El Oro Parakeet and
https://abcbirds.org/bird/jocotoco-antpitta/">Jocotoco Antpitta, ABC's reserve network of 70+ sites benefits migratory birds ranging from
https://abcbirds.org/bird/blackburnian-warbler/">Blackburnian Warbler to
https://abcbirds.org/bird/buff-breasted-sandpiper/">Buff-breasted Sandpiper, while protecting a wide array of biodiversity and restoring thousands of acres of habitat.
More at
www.abcbirds.org