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*COMMON BANANAQUIT  Coereba [flaveola] luteola 9.5–10cm. Small,

rather warbler-like tanager of humid forest, adjacent second growth, plantations,

gardens. Singles and pairs forage low to high in flowering trees, probing and

piercing flowers for nectar; also eats fruit, forages for insects, visits feeders, and

sometimes joins mixed flocks. Nothing particularly similar in Costa Rica: note

bold white eyebrow, pale grayish throat contrasting with yellow body, decurved

bill, small white wing spot. Juv. duller overall with eyebrow and throat tinged

pale yellowish. SOUNDS: High, thin sharp seiit, and thin, slightly lisping twitters.

Song notably variable, a high, thin, fairly rapid, buzzy to sibilant warble, might

be mistaken for a hummingbird, 1–2.5 secs. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes, to

1600m. (Mexico to S America.)

*BLUE-GRAY TANAGER  Tangara (Thraupis) episcopus 15.5–17.5cm. Familiar,

often conspicuous tanager of open and semi-open areas with trees and bushes,

towns, gardens, forest edge. In pairs or small groups, often in fruiting trees and

visits feeders; at times perches on high bare twigs and phone wires. Overall

powder-blue plumage with brighter wings and dark beady eye distinctive; cf.

smaller and duller Plain-colored Tanager. SOUNDS: Varied chips and lisping

whistles, including high, slightly piercing, downslurred ssiiu and more nasal

sywee, both of which may be given in flight. Song a high, slightly lisping to

squeaky twittering warble, mostly 2–5 secs; averages faster-paced, more lisping,

and higher than Palm Tanager. STATUS: Common to fairly common on both slopes, to 2000m, rarely

higher; more local and less numerous in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to S America.)

PALM TANAGER  Tangara (Thraupis) palmarum 16–18cm. Open and semi-

open areas with taller trees, especially palms; forest edge, hedgerows, gardens.

Habits much like Blue-gray Tanager, and the two species readily occur

together. Grayish plumage of male has variable olive or violet tones depending

on light, female more yellowish overall, but contrasting dark wings distinctive;

cf. Yellow-winged Tanager. Juv. resembles duller version of female plumage.

SOUNDS: Various short, high whistled notes, including slightly nasal upslurred

sweih; short squeaky chatters. Song a varied high twittering and squeaky

warble, mostly 2–5 secs; averages slower-paced, less high and lisping than

Blue-gray Tanager, often with more varied structure. STATUS: Fairly common to common on both slopes,

to 1800m, rarely higher; more local and scarce in drier nw. lowlands. (Nicaragua to S America.)

YELLOW-WINGED TANAGER  Tangara (Thraupis) abbas 17–19cm. Humid

lowland forest edge, semi-open areas with taller trees, gardens. Habits much like

Blue-gray Tanager, with which it may associate at fruiting trees. Beautiful

purplish and lilac tones on head and breast often look drab grayish unless seen in

good light, but note contrasting blackish wings with big yellow wing patch; cf.

Palm Tanager. SOUNDS: High, thin overslurred or upslurred ssiu or tsíu and high

sweek, both of which may be given in flight. Song a high, rapid, slightly spluttering

or pulsating trill, often with 1–2 intro notes, shee iiiiiiiiiiiiiir, 2–3 secs; faster-

paced, less dry and staccato than Golden-hooded Tanager song. STATUS: Scarce

and local in n. lowlands, first reported Costa Rica in mid-1980s. (Mexico to

Costa Rica.)