Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira)

Identification & Behavior: ~13 cm (5.1 in). The male Guira Tanager is yellow-olive above with a mostly yellow bill. It has a distinctive black mask and throat bordered by yellow. The breast is rufous grading to yellow on the rest of the underparts. The female is similar by lacks the black mask and rufous breast. It forages in forest edges and second growth. In extreme northwest Peru in Tumbes, it seems restricted to mangrove forests. The female is similar to a Yellow-warbler and a female Yellow-backed Tanager.

Status: The Guira Tanager is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1500 m along the eastern foothill of the Andes. It does not occur north of the Amazon and Marañon rivers in Amazonia. In extreme northwest Peru, it is found at sea level in Mangrove Forest. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara Guira.

Sub-species: Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis guira guirina), (P. L. Sclater), 1856.  Colombia in Cauca Valley (Antioquia S to Valle, once on Pacific slope in Valle), Magdalena Valley and E Andes (W slope from Santander S to Huila, and E slope in at least Boyacá and Cundinamarca and probably S to Caquetá), also Ecuador (W of Andes) and NW Peru (NW Tumbes).
(Hemithraupis guira huambina), Sztolcman, 1926  S Colombia (Nariño), E Ecuador, E Peru and W Brazil (E to R Madeira).

Meaning of Name: Hemithraupis: Gr. Hemi, hemisus = half, small and thraupis= unknown small bird, perhaps some sort of finch. guira: Güaraní name Guihrá bird.

See more of the Family Thraupidae