A common understory tanager of suburban areas and forest edges often popping up briefly before dropping nervously back into the undergrowth.

The Silver-beaked Tanager

“Silver Beaked Tanager” by Charles Patrick Ewing is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The silver-beaked tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) is a bird that measures around 18 cm long, weighing in at 25 grams. Adult males have velvety crimson black plumage with a deep crimson throat and breast. The upper beak is black, but the enlarged lower beak is an almost luminous bright silver. The bill is pointed upwards when on display.

“File:Ramphocelus carbo-20090124.jpg” by Doug janson is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The female is much duller, with brownish upperparts, reddish brown underparts, and a black bill.

There is a wide variety of plumage variation between the various subspecies, differing mainly in the degree of contrast between the upperparts, the throat, and breast.

“Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) male eating banana …” by berniedup is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

This Silver-beaked tanager is endemic to South America, with its range stretching from Eastern Colombia and Venezuela south down to Paraguay and Central Brazil. They are also found on Trinidad – the southernmost island in the Caribbean.

“Silver-beaked Tanager” by Mike’s Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

This is a common bird which frequents forest borders, clearings and gardens. It can usually be found near water. The Silver-beaked Tanager is often seen in groups of six to ten individuals.

“Silver-beaked Tanager” by Mike’s Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Silver-beaked tanager feed mainly on insects and fruit at around 3 meters above ground level or lower. Sometimes going as high as 15 meters but only rarely.

“Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) female …” by berniedup is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The female builds the nest alone, in the shape of an open, elaborate basket, in which she lays two eggs at a time. She then incubates the eggs for 11 to 12 days before they hatch. The chicks fledge after another 11 to 12 days.

“Silver-beaked Tanager – South Ecuador_S4E0520” by fveronesi1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion set by the IUCN.