Photo: Nick Athanas / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cone-billed Tanager
Conothraupis mesoleuca
Cone-billed Tanager (Conothraupis mesoleuca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cone-billed Tanager (Conothraupis mesoleuca) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 15.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Conothraupis
- Species mesoleuca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 15.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cone-billed Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
Where it spends much of its time perched among vegetation.
Migration
The Cone-billed Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Cone-billed Tanager (Conothraupis mesoleuca) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA wc Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 15.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 34,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cone-billed Tanager?
The Cone-billed Tanager is a small bird that weighs around 15.3 g.
Where does the Cone-billed Tanager live?
The Cone-billed Tanager is found across South America with a range covering SA wc Brazil.
What family does the Cone-billed Tanager belong to?
The Cone-billed Tanager (Conothraupis mesoleuca) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cone-billed Tanager eat?
The Cone-billed Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Cone-billed Tanager migrate?
The Cone-billed Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Cone-billed Tanager endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Cone-billed Tanager make?
1 real field recording of the Cone-billed Tanager — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Cone-billed Tanager's range?
The Cone-billed Tanager has a mapped global range of about 34,000 km².
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.