White-shouldered Tanager
Loriotus luctuosus
White-shouldered Tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-shouldered Tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) is a member of the Thraupidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 13 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thraupidae Tanagers & Allies
- Genus Loriotus
- Species luctuosus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-shouldered Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-shouldered Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-shouldered Tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) belongs to the Thraupidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Honduras to Bolivia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13 g, with a wing length of about 6.2 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-shouldered Tanager?
The White-shouldered Tanager is a very small bird that weighs around 13 g.
Where does the White-shouldered Tanager live?
The White-shouldered Tanager is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Honduras to Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-shouldered Tanager belong to?
The White-shouldered Tanager (Loriotus luctuosus) belongs to the Thraupidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-shouldered Tanager eat?
The White-shouldered Tanager is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-shouldered Tanager migrate?
The White-shouldered Tanager is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the White-shouldered Tanager make?
1 real field recording of the White-shouldered Tanager — including its call — 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.