About Silver-beaked Tanagers
The silver-beaked tanager is a small bunting species known for its silvery-white beak and crimson body. The males of this species appear black when the sun is not out, but their feathers become a velvety maroon color when the light hits them. Females are typically browner in color with black beaks instead of silver. These birds are about 6.5 inches in length and weigh roughly one ounce.
Silver-beaked tanagers live in groups of two to seven individuals. Outside of breeding season, this species is not very territorial. Females build their nests between three and 24 feet off the ground in a thick bush. Nests are formed like a deep cup with dead leaves on the inside and live plant material on the outside. They usually build these nests close to other birds’ nests, and will even reuse nests. These birds build bulky nests in the bushes and usually lay two blotchy green-blue eggs. The eggs are incubated by the female for two weeks and then fledge two weeks later.
Silver-beaked tanagers have several songs they use to communicate and also have a very distinctive call. When these tanagers eat fruits, they pick out large pieces and crush them to make them smaller to eat. They are also known for clinging upside down on branches when eating certain fruits.
Silver-Beaked Tanager at the Akron Zoo
The silver-beaked tanager can be found in the zoo’s rainforest habitat, which is located in the Komodo Kingdom building.