The Silver-Billed Tanager: A Striking Medium-Sized Bird with Unique Plumage

The Silver-billed Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) is a medium-sized passerine bird native to South America, ranging from Trinidad and Venezuela to Paraguay and central Brazil. This striking species is known for its distinct coloration, with males exhibiting a rich red breast and neck, contrasted with velvety black plumage. The bill of the male features a large, silver-colored lower mandible and a black upper mandible, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance.

Females, by contrast, are much duller in color, sporting brownish upperparts, reddish-brown underparts, and a black bill. The various subspecies of the Silver-billed Tanager show some differences in plumage, particularly in the contrast between the upperparts and the neck and breast.

Measuring about 18 cm (7 inches) in length and weighing around 25 grams (0.88 oz), this bird is typically found in cultivated and lightly forested regions. It builds a large,

cup-shaped nest in shrubs, where the female lays two greenish-blue eggs with black and brown blotches. The female incubates the eggs for 11–12 days, and after hatching, the chicks fledge in another 11–12 days.

Diet-wise, the Silver-billed Tanager feeds on a variety of fresh fruits, live insects, and bird food blends such as Paradise Earth Premium Softbill Blend.