Palm Tanager Identification Guide

Key Field Marks

• Size & shape: A medium-sized tanager, about 18 cm long, with a fairly slim body and moderately long tail typical of Thraupis tanagers.
• Plumage: Overall dull olive-gray to grayish-green, darkest on the back and wings, paler and grayer on the underparts. A subtly darker greenish-black panel is visible on the folded wing.
• Bare parts: Dark grayish bill and legs, without bright colors.
• Behavior: Often forages in pairs or small groups in the crowns of palm trees, gardens, and forest edge, eating fruit, nectar, and some insects. Frequently associates with Blue-gray Tanagers in mixed foraging groups.

Separating It from Similar Species

• Blue-gray Tanager: Clearly blue overall (especially on the wings and rump), whereas Palm Tanager is much drabber olive-gray with no blue tones; the two species often occur together, making direct comparison easy.
• Female/immature euphonias or other tanagers: Generally show some yellow or more contrast; Palm Tanager's uniform drab olive-gray tone with a darker wing panel is distinctive once learned.

Where & When to See It

• Range: Widespread from southern Mexico and Central America through much of tropical South America, including the Amazon basin and parts of the Atlantic Forest.
• Habitat: Strongly tied to palm trees — found in palm groves, gardens, city parks, forest edges, and semi-open country with scattered palms.
• Season: Resident year-round throughout its range; no long-distance migration.

Voice

A thin, squeaky, buzzy song and simple chip calls, less musical than many other tanagers.