Blue-gray tanager

The blue-gray tanager is a delightful South American songbird that belongs to the tanager family, Thraupidae. These medium-sized birds can be seen from Mexico to Bolivia and northern Brazil, including much of the Amazon Basin. Interestingly, in Trinidad and Tobago, they are affectionately called "blue jeans."

There are 14 recognized subspecies of the blue-gray tanager, each exhibiting a unique shade of blue. These birds typically have a light bluish head and underparts, darker blue on their upper parts, and a distinct shoulder patch. They generally measure between 16 to 18 cm in length and weigh around 30 to 40 grams.

Their diet primarily consists of fruit, though they also consume nectar and insects. They are often found in open woodlands, cultivated areas, and gardens. Known for their distinctive squeaky twittering song, they are usually seen in pairs or small groups.

In terms of breeding, blue-gray tanagers lay one to three eggs in a cup-shaped nest, which they construct in high tree forks or building crevices. The eggs incubate for about 14 days, and the chicks fledge approximately 17 days after hatching. Nonetheless, these birds face challenges such as nest parasitism from Molothrus cowbirds and infections from microfilariae and other blood parasites.

Despite these threats, the blue-gray tanager is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their widespread range contributes to the stability of their population.