Native Land: Some in North America but most in Central & South America
Native Habitat:  Neotropical, forest
Classification:  Order Passeriformes, Family Emberizadae, Subfamily Thraupinae
........................large subfamily with more than 240 species of tanagers!
Diet:  fruit, insects, some seed
Ratings:  Care - medium (delicate establishing), Space Requirements - small - medium, ................Pet Quality - none, Voice - quiet
Popular Softbills
 
Tanagers have been staples in softbill aviculture for decades and are still just as popular, if not more so.  The majority  are beautiful birds that range from those that are hardy enough to be considered beginner's softbills like the Blue-Grey Tanager, to the delicate and very   expensive,  such  as  the  Paradise  Tanager.   Tanagers range in size from the small honeycreepers and  euphonias  to the large thrush-tanagers.  At the Davis Lund Aviaries, we currently have three different species of tanagers.  Recently a wide range of tanager species are being imported, and many aviculturists are being successful in  breeding  them.   Several  tanager  species are   sexually   dimorphic   which   helps   greatly   in   establishing true pairs.
 
Pictured left:  A Red-Shouldered Tanager, female.  (Tachyphonus  phoenicius)   Dimorphic;  one of our quieter colored tanager species.
Housing
Most   tanagers  need a planted enclosure and   can be mixed with other species, but since some get very aggressive when breeding,   it  is   wise  to  house  them  separately.  Most are temperature delicate and  cannot  take   cold or damp weather which  means  they   need   to  be  housed  indoors in the winter except in the mildest climates.  A few species such as the Blue-Grey, Palm, and Silver-Beaked are tougher once acclimated and can stand outside accommodations   year-round   in  many  areas.
(Above & Top of Page)  Turquoise Tanager (Tangara mexicana)  Monomorphic, and one of our favorite species of tanager.  Beautiful birds!
Diet
Although  tanagers  can  be  difficult  to establish, once they are, they are relatively easy to feed.  All food  needs  to  be  small  so  they can manage it easily.    The  basic  diet  is  the  softbill  fruit  and  vegetable mix, with soaked and dry small pellets or commercial   insectivore   mix,   plus  helpings  of  livefood (especially when breeding).  Nectar and sponge cake can help entice picky eaters.
Above:  The Violet Euphonia (Tanagra violacea)   is   a   small  delightful  tanager that mixes well with small birds.  The male is a beautiful glossy dark purple on the upper parts   with   a    contrasting   yellow on the lower. The female is a dusky, dull green.
Breeding
Many species of tanagers are being bred regularly by aviculturists, and a few of the easiest ones are the large Blue-Grey Tanager and the small Violet Euphonia.  If the requirements of plenty of livefood, privacy, and a planted enclosure are met, then most species can be coaxed to breed.  Most will accept commercial open cup-baskets or half-fronted boxes, but some will build their own cup nests instead.
More Information
To learn more about tanagers, the following are recommended:
 
1.  Vince,  Martin.  Softbills - Care,  Breeding  and  Conservation.    Hancock House          ...........................Publishers, Blaine, WA, USA.  1996.
 
2.  Vriends, Dr. Matthew M.  Encyclopedia of Softbilled Birds.  T.F.H. Publications, ...........................Neptune, NJ, USA.  1980.
 
3.  Woolham, Frank.  Aviary Birds In Colour.  Blandford Press.  London, England.  ...........................1988
 
4.  Alderton, David.  The Handbook of Cage And Aviary Birds.  Blandford Press.  ...........................London, England.  1993
This site  presents  material  for  your   information,  education,  and  entertainment.  All photographs were taken by the Davis Lunds.
All photos and text are property of the Davis Lunds.
You may not copy, distribute, modify, reuse, or transmit any portions of this site for commercial or public use without written permission from the Davis Lunds.
Copyright 10/98