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Golden Tanager
Tanagers · Resident

Golden Tanager

Tangara aurulenta

Least Concern13–14 cm · 18–22 g

By the Birdfact teamChecked byNathan Cope

With vibrant yellow-gold plumage that shimmers in the rainforest canopy, this small songbird stands out as one of South America's most spectacular sights.
On this page11 sections
  1. How to recognise it
  2. Its size
  3. Its song and calls
  4. When and where to see it
  5. What it eats
  6. Nesting and breeding
  7. Behaviour
  8. Conservation
  9. More photos
  10. Quick facts
  11. Sources

How to recognise it

The Golden Tanager is a vibrant, small bird with a striking golden-yellow body and black wings. Its head features a distinctive black patch on the side of the head, under the eye, which contrasts sharply with the bright plumage.

Both sexes share similar colouration, with subtle blue-green tints on the wings and back. Juveniles display a duller version of the adult plumage, gradually developing full colouration as they mature. Some of the subspecies may show more brown below.

Its size

Adults
Length
13–14 cm
Wingspan
20–22 cm
Weight
18–22 g

Its song and calls

Golden Tanagers have a high-pitched, thin call often described as a sharp 'tseet' or 'tsit'. Their song is a series of these high notes strung together in rapid succession, creating a quick, tinkling melody.

During foraging, they may also produce soft, chattering sounds among group members.

When and where to see it

The Golden Tanager is not recorded regularly in the UK, Ireland, the United States or Canada.

Worldwide: recorded regularly in 5 countries

Countries where it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024. Linked countries have their own bird list.

South America (5)

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

Download citations (7)

Tips for seeing it

  • Look for Golden Tanagers in the mid to upper levels of montane forests
  • Listen for their high-pitched, thin calls to locate them in dense foliage
  • Watch for their quick, acrobatic movements as they forage in small groups
  • Observe fruiting trees, where they often gather to feed

What it eats

Golden Tanagers primarily feed on small fruits and berries, supplementing their diet with insects and spiders.

They forage actively in the canopy, often hanging upside down to reach fruits at the ends of branches. These birds play a crucial role in seed dispersal within their forest habitats.

Nesting and breeding

Breeding season for Golden Tanagers typically occurs between March and June, coinciding with the end of the rainy season. Pairs form monogamous bonds and work together to build their nests.

Nests are cup-shaped structures made of moss, lichen, and fine plant fibres, usually placed in the fork of a tree branch high in the canopy. Females lay 2-3 pale blue eggs with brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 13-14 days, with both parents sharing duties. Nestlings fledge after approximately 15-16 days but remain dependent on their parents for several weeks.

Behaviour

Golden Tanagers are highly social, often seen in small flocks or mixed-species groups. They move quickly through the canopy, hopping from branch to branch while foraging.

These birds are known for their agile flight patterns, darting between trees with remarkable speed and precision.

Conservation

While currently listed as Least Concern, Golden Tanagers face threats from habitat loss due to deforestation in their range.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting montane forest ecosystems and establishing protected areas to maintain stable populations.

More photos

4 photos

Quick facts

Length
13–14 cm
Wingspan
20–22 cm
Weight
18–22 g
Lifespan
3–5 years · oldest recorded 7.2 years
Family
Tanagers
Migration
Resident
Global status (IUCN)
Least Concern
World population
Not quantified, but 'fairly common'
Population trend
Decreasing
Scientific name
Tangara aurulenta

Sources

4
  1. 1BirdLife International. 2024. Tangara aurulenta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T103849300A264357336. Source (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2BirdLife International. 2024. Tangara aurulenta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T103849300A264357336. Source (opens in a new tab)
  3. 3Stotz et al. (1996)
  4. 4Searchable Ornithological Research Archive, University of New Mexico University Libraries Source (opens in a new tab)
Spotted a mistake?Tell usHow we write and checkBy the Birdfact team · Updated

Checked by

Nathan Cope, founder and editor

Nathan founded Birdfact and leads its writers and contributors in the UK, the US and Canada. He has watched and studied birds for more than ten years, and checks every article and species guide before it’s published.

How we write and checkAbout Nathan