Dotted Tanager
Ixothraupis varia
Dotted Tanager (Ixothraupis varia) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dotted Tanager (Ixothraupis varia) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 10 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Ixothraupis
- Species varia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dotted Tanager is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Dotted Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dotted Tanager (Ixothraupis varia) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA n Amazonia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 4 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dotted Tanager?
The Dotted Tanager is a very small bird that weighs around 10 g.
Where does the Dotted Tanager live?
The Dotted Tanager is found across South America with a range covering SA n Amazonia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dotted Tanager belong to?
The Dotted Tanager (Ixothraupis varia) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dotted Tanager eat?
The Dotted Tanager is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Dotted Tanager migrate?
The Dotted Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Dotted Tanager make?
1 real field recording of the Dotted Tanager — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thraupidae
A field guide to the Thraupidae family — 394 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.