Golden Tanager

Tangara aurulenta

With vibrant yellow-gold plumage that shimmers in the rainforest canopy, this small songbird stands out as one of South America's most spectacular sights.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Golden Tanager is a vibrant, small bird with a striking golden-yellow body and black wings. Its head features a distinctive black patch on the side of the head, under the eye, which contrasts sharply with the bright plumage.

Both sexes share similar colouration, with subtle blue-green tints on the wings and back. Juveniles display a duller version of the adult plumage, gradually developing full colouration as they mature. Some of the subspecies may show more brown below.

Size

Length

13cm to 14cm

Wingspan

20cm to 22cm

Weight

18g to 22g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Yellow Black

Secondary Colour

Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Golden Tanager can be found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Golden Tanager can be found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Golden Tanager is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Golden Tanagers inhabit montane and cloud forests in the Andes, ranging from Venezuela to Peru. They prefer humid, evergreen forests with dense vegetation and abundant fruiting plants.

These birds are non-migratory, maintaining year-round territories within their preferred elevation range. They are particularly common in Colombia and Ecuador, where they can be found in both primary and secondary growth forests.

Elevation Range

500 to 2,500 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Golden Tanager. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons