Western Spindalis
A species of Stripe-headed Tanagers Scientific name : Spindalis zena Genus : Stripe-headed Tanagers
Western Spindalis, A species of Stripe-headed Tanagers
Botanical name: Spindalis zena
Genus: Stripe-headed Tanagers
Content
Description General Info
Description
The male is brightly colored with a black and white horizontally striped head and contrasting burnt orange throat, breast and nape. The remainder of the belly is light grey. There are two color variations: green-backed (generally northern) and black-backed (generally northern). The female has similar markings on the head, but washed out to a medium grey. She is olive-grey above and greyish-brown below, with a slight orange wash on the breast, rump, and shoulders. They are 15 cm (5.9 in) long and weigh 21 g (0.74 oz).
Size
15-17 cm (5.8-6.75 in)
Feeding Habits
Western Spindalis primarily consumes fruits and berries, supplemented with the tips of soft leaves, other plant parts, and the occasional snail. It forages mainly in the daytime, using its adaptions to seek out a variety of plant-based foods.
Habitat
Western Spindalis occupies a range of habitats from lowlands to highlands, displaying adaptability from fairly dry to humid regions across broad geographical areas. Habitually, western Spindalis can be found in environments such as open woodland, brushland, forest edges, and second growth. The species exhibits a preference for scrub and densely vegetated areas, including mangroves, and frequents both native and introduced pine forests during breeding. It is notably populous at mid to high elevations, though it tends to avoid tall dense forests, favoring disturbed or second-growth vegetation instead.
Dite type
Frugivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
The species is found in southeastern Florida and the western Caribbean (Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands). It is a rare visitor of extreme southern Florida, where the subspecies S. z. zena successfully bred in 2009. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and heavily degraded former forest. The subspecies zena is found in pine forest.
Species Status
It is not considered a threatened species by the IUCN.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Tanagers Genus
Stripe-headed Tanagers Species
Western Spindalis