About Compsothraupis loricata (M.H.K.Lichtenstein, 1819)
The scarlet-throated tanager, whose scientific name is Compsothraupis loricata, is a small passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Compsothraupis. It is one of the largest species within the tanager family, reaching 21 cm (8+1⁄4 inches) in length and weighing an average of 72.5 grams. Adult females are entirely black, while adult males have a distinct red throat. This bird is endemic to northeastern eastern Brazil, and is almost entirely restricted to the Caatinga-dominated region of the country. It is most often found near water, and typically occurs at elevations between 200 and 1,000 meters (660 to 3,280 feet). It is usually observed in pairs or in small groups of up to 8 individuals. It has a habit of perching on high branches in trees, and it moves slowly. During the breeding season, males fluff the feathers on their back to display the white feather bases underneath. Its nest is well hidden, and is typically placed deep within dense vegetation or in an abandoned woodpecker hole.
