Buff-throated Saltator
A species of Typical Saltators Scientific name : Saltator maximus Genus : Typical Saltators
Buff-throated Saltator, A species of Typical Saltators
Botanical name: Saltator maximus
Genus: Typical Saltators
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The buff-throated saltator (Saltator maximus) is a seed-eating bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It breeds from southeastern Mexico to western Ecuador and northeastern Brazil. The buff-throated saltator is on average 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighs 42–52 g (1.5–1.8 oz). The adult has a slate-grey head with a white supercilium and a greenish crown. The upperparts are olive green, the underparts are grey becoming buff on the lower belly, and the throat is buff, edged with black. The thick convex bill and legs are black. Young birds are duller, and have a white-mottled blackish throat and breast, and brown markings on the lower underparts. The common call is a high seeeer. Males duet melodiously with a warbled cheery cheery answered by cheery to you. This is a species of dense vegetation. The buff-throated saltator feeds on fruit (e.g. of Cymbopetalum mayanum (Annonaceae), Trophis racemosa (Moraceae), and gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba)), buds, nectar and slow-moving insects. It forages at low and mid levels, sometimes with mixed species flocks. The two pale blue eggs per clutch measure some 22–32 mm (0.87–1.26 in) long by about 16.5–21.5 mm (0.65–0.85 in) wide and weigh about 4.8–6.1 g (0.17–0.22 oz) each, which is large among Saltator eggs. They are laid in a bulky cup nest up to 2 m (6.6 ft) high in a tree or bush.
Size
21 cm
Feeding Habits
Buff-throated Saltator primarily consumes fruit, nectar, buds, and seeds, including wasps and ants. This species forages by gleaning foliage and occasionally capturing prey. It exhibits a preference for certain flower corollas, illustrating a unique dietary adaptation.
Habitat
The buff-throated Saltator typically inhabits the edges of humid lowland forests, preferring to forage in mid-level foliage and occasionally venturing into the forest canopy. While it rarely forages deeply or nests inside forests, it often frequents adjacent shady plantations, areas with dense vegetation, brushy pastures, and gardens close to forests. This species adapts to a variety of semi-open habitats across tropical regions, utilizing the vegetation growth near forests for sustenance and shelter.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Cardinals Genus
Typical Saltators Species
Buff-throated Saltator