Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Thick-billed Saltator
Saltator maxillosus
Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 50.8 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 maxillosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.8 g
- Diet
- Plant-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Thick-billed Saltator feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Thick-billed Saltator is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA ne Argentina and s, se Brazil.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.8 g, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 10.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 437,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Thick-billed Saltator?
The Thick-billed Saltator is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.8 g.
Where does the Thick-billed Saltator live?
The Thick-billed Saltator is found across South America with a range covering SA ne Argentina and s, se Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Thick-billed Saltator belong to?
The Thick-billed Saltator (Saltator maxillosus) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Thick-billed Saltator eat?
The Thick-billed Saltator feeds mainly on plant material such as leaves, buds and shoots.
Does the Thick-billed Saltator migrate?
The Thick-billed Saltator is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Thick-billed 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 Thick-billed Saltator make?
1 real field recording of the Thick-billed 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 Thick-billed Saltator's range?
The Thick-billed Saltator has a mapped global range of about 437,000 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.