Common Tanagers

As Kabalebo can be seen as a transit place for most of our feathered friends, I can say that some even decide to stay a little bit longer. Amongst the long - stay term birds we can include tanagers as one of them. And under the tanager family 3 members stand out:
- Silver - beaked tanagers
- Palm tanagers
- Blue - grey tanagers

They are so frequently seen and heard that they are rather part of the Kabalebo family than they are seen as a visitor.

Silver - beaked tanager (Ramphocelus carbo)
Dominant, noisy and always seen in groups. They are one of the first birds, visitors can easily see and identify. Huge variety in their menu such like fruit, rice, bread, nectar and insects ..... surely no shortage in food for them.

Silver - beaked tanagers, being accompanied by a Buff - throated saltator, enjoying their meal on a platform feeder.

Male Silver - beaked tanager.

Nest of a Silver - beaked tanager.

Palm tanager (Thraupis palmarum)
Sometimes they join the Silver - beaked group, but I've also seen them foraging in pairs. They share the same variety in food just like the Silver - beaked. Palm tanagers re - use the same nest previous pairs had used before. I've often seen palm tanagers foraging for insects between leaves or in small corners, working as a team.

Nest of a Palm tanager

Blue - grey tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
They are not represented in abundance, but they often join the Silver - beaked and the Palm tanagers when foraging for food.

Nest of the Blue - grey tanager

Young Blue - grey tanagers still in their nest

As they are part of the Kabalebo family, these birds are at ease and feel so safe that they even decide to make the next generation here in Kabalebo. Even though they are common tanagers, it is a privilege for me to meet them everyday.