Bahamas Tanagra

Bahamian tanagra ( lat. Spindalis ) - a genus of birds of the monotypic family Spindalidae. Includes 4 species.

Traditionally, the genus belonged to the family of tanagra (Thraupidae). However, in 2013, on the basis of genetic studies, the genus was isolated in the monotypic family Spindalidae.

In addition, the genus traditionally consisted of one polytype species, Spindalis zena, with 8 subspecies, S. z. townsendi and S. z. zena from the Bahamas, S. z. pretrei from Cuba, S. z. salvini from Grand Cayman, S. z. dominicensis from Haiti and Gonave Island, S. z. portoricensis from Puerto Rico, S. z. nigricephala from Jamaica and S. z. benedicti from the island of Cozumel. In 1997, mainly due to morphological and vocal differences, three subspecies ( portoricensis , dominicensis and nigricephala ) were promoted to species rank. S. zena remained a polytype species with five subspecies - S. z. pretrei , S. z. salvini , S. z. benedicti , S. z. townsendi and S. z. zena .

Representatives of the genus are common in the Greater Antilles and Cozumel Island off the coast of Yucatan.

The birds are medium sized, 15-18 cm long. The head is medium sized, the neck is medium long and thick. The short beak is strong and sharp. Wings and tail of medium length. The legs are short and strong. Males have a black and white head with wide white stripes above the eyes and cheeks. The neck, throat, chest and belly are orange, yellow or red.

The Bahamas Tanagra live in various places of residence, including dense secondary forests, open forests, mountain forests and plantations. They eat fruits and berries. They can also eat leaves, buds, insects, and invertebrates.