Photo: iNaturalist user: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Masked Saltator
Saltator cinctus
Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus) — 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 Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 48.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Saltator
- Species cinctus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 48.6 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Masked Saltator is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Masked Saltator is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus) is a member of the Thraupidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA wc Colombia to nc Peru.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 48.6 g, with a wing length of about 9.7 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 73,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Masked Saltator?
The Masked Saltator is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 48.6 g.
Where does the Masked Saltator live?
The Masked Saltator is found across South America with a range covering SA wc Colombia to nc Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Masked Saltator belong to?
The Masked Saltator (Saltator cinctus) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Masked Saltator eat?
The Masked Saltator is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Masked Saltator migrate?
The Masked Saltator is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Masked Saltator endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Masked Saltator make?
1 real field recording of the Masked Saltator — 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 Masked Saltator's range?
The Masked Saltator has a mapped global range of about 73,000 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.