May 14

Bird of the day

Burnished-buff tanager

Tangara cayana

The burnished-buff tanager (Stilpnia cayana), also known as the rufous-crowned tanager, is a common South American species of bird in the family Thraupidae.

There are several subspecies of the burnished-buff tanager, falling into two main groups: the northern and western cayana group, and the southern and eastern flava group. The subspecies huberi from Marajó Island is intermediate between the two main groups. Males of the cayana group have an orange-rufous crown, black mask, and cream underparts distinctly tinged blue on the throat and chest. Males of the flava group have an orange-buff crown and buff underparts with a black patch extending from the mask, over the throat and central chest, to the mid-belly. Males of both groups have turquoise wings and tail. Females are duller than the males, and have black restricted to a poorly demarcated "shadow" of a mask.

Aliases

Tangara cayana, Stilpnia cayana

Range

Range map of Burnished-buff tanager