Blue and gray Tanagers and Southern Lapwings

 Hi guys, today I'm going to talk about two specific birds: Blue and gray Tanagers and Southern Lapwings

Blue and gray Tanager:

                                        

       Thraupis episcopus

General information

is a species of passerine bird of the family Thraupidae, belonging to the genus Thraupis. It is native to Mexico, Central America and north-central South America. It usually feeds on fruits in the upper and middle part of the trees. Perches on telephone wires. Simple but distinctive in appearance, with dark eyes and a robust bill. The population east of the Andes in South America has broad white bars on the wings, and look very different. This species is of medium size (16 cm). It does not present sexual dimorphism.

Behavior

The active and noisy blue and gray Tanager, as it is widely known, is one of Colombia's most familiar birds in populated areas. It is very sociable, found in pairs or small groups and, while eating, remarkably versatile: searching head down along branches, checking foliage, hunting for insects in the air and visiting flowering trees and fruit or fruit feeders. Usually high in trees and sometimes with Palm Tile. Vocalizations may be a "tsiiuo" call, dry, stilted, sometimes followed by a few trilled notes; song a varied series of shrill trills very similar to the Palm Tier.

Call

The call consists of a short, shrill, high-pitched note, which gives the impression of rising in pitch at the end. The chant is a complex series of high and fast notes.

Mating

They reproduce throughout the year, although this phenomenon is usually associated with rainy seasons and varies according to the region. They can build their nest in a great variety of structures, from stakes, human constructions to bushes, at a variable height. Among the materials used to build the nest, the use of spider webs has been recorded. The construction process usually lasts 6-7 days; incubation about 14 days; and feeding of nestlings inside the nest about 17-20 days. Then, juvenile individuals continue to accompany their parents for 15-21 days.

Video

Southern Lapwing:

    Vanellus chilensis

General information

The size of the bird is 32 to 38 cm and it weighs between 277 and 426 g. It is brownish gray above, has a pinkish bill with a black tip, red eyes, a long, sharp, grayish occipital crest, black forehead, gular patch and breast, greenish-bronze shoulders, white belly and pinkish to orange legs. During its short and slow flights it is possible to observe its broad and rounded black wings with a large white patch on the wing coverts, the rump is white and the tail is black. Both sexes are similar. It inhabits grasslands in open areas, wet meadows and swampy areas with tangled vegetation of low altitude. It is generally found in short grasslands.

Behavior

It is a rather noisy bird and can be observed solitary, in pairs or in loose groups. They generally fly short distances slowly and with ups and downs. When they feel threatened they emit a shrill and repeated call that they also produce when they return to their roosts at dusk. 

Call

It is a very noisy species, producing a loud "quiic-quiic-quiic".

Mating

In Colombia nests have been recorded in January, February, May, June and July. It nests in a small depression in the ground where it lays 3 or 4 olive-brown eggs with black dots and spots, which it incubates for about 27 days. It is a monogamous bird and has a cooperative breeding system in which 2 or 3 adults or immatures help in the defense of the territory. They exhibit quite aggressive behavior during the breeding period, driving away any intruder near the nest. 

Video

Final consideration: I think that these birds are beautiful and we need to take care of them, because both of them play an role in the ecosystem as the rest of animals on the planet. Let's appreciate their beautiful (and noisy) calls and respect thier habitats.