# Tanager

The tanagers (singular /ˈtænədʒər/) comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.
Traditionally, the family contained around 240 species of mostly brightly colored fruit-eating birds. As more of these birds were studied using modern molecular techniques, it became apparent that the traditional families were not monophyletic. Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of the Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (Euphoniinae). Likewise, the genera Piranga (which includes the scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and western tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the family Cardinalidae, and have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.

## Description

Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is 9 cm (4 in) long and weighs 6 g (0.2 oz), barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 g (2.7 oz). The heaviest is the white-capped tanager, which weighs 114 g (4.02 oz) and measures about 24 cm (9.4 in). Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.
Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.

## Distribution

Tanagers are restricted to the Western Hemisphere and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.

## Behavior

Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. These birds may also be seen in single-species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.

### Diet

Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in the wood. Other species look for insects on the undersides of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.

### Breeding

The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial, while others build their nests closer together. Little information is available on tanager breeding behavior. Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.
Most tanagers build cup nests on branches in trees. Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of the tree in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. No information is yet known regarding the nests of some species.
The clutch size is three to five eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young. Five species have helpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.

## Taxonomy

The family Thraupidae was introduced (as the subfamily Thraupinae) in 1847 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The type genus is Thraupis.
The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as the New World, nine-primaried oscines. The traditional pre-molecular classification was largely based on the different feeding specializations. Nectar-feeders were placed in Coerebidae (honeycreepers), large-billed seed-eaters in Cardinalidae (cardinals and grosbeaks), smaller-billed seed-eaters in Emberizidae (New World finches and sparrows), ground-foraging insect-eaters in Icteridae (blackbirds) and fruit-eaters in Thraupidae. This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies. Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series of molecular phylogenetic studies led to a complete reorganization of the traditional families. Thraupidae now includes large-billed seed eaters, thin-billed nectar feeders, and foliage gleaners as well as fruit-eaters.
One consequence of redefining the family boundaries is that for many species their common names are no longer congruent with the families in which they are placed. As of July 2020 there are 39 species with "tanager" in the common name that are not placed in Thraupidae. These include the widely distributed scarlet tanager and western tanager, which are both now placed in Cardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were not monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.
As of July 2023 the family contains 386 species which are divided into 15 subfamilies and 105 genera. For a complete list, see the article List of tanager species.

### List of genera
#### Catamblyrhynchinae

The plushcap has no close relatives and is now placed in its own subfamily. It was previously placed either in the subfamily Catamblyrhynchinae within the Emberizidae or in its own family Catamblyrhynchidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Catamblyrhynchus Lafresnaye, 1842 | Plushcap – Catamblyrhynchus diadema |

#### Charitospizinae

The coal-crested finch is endemic to the grasslands of Brazil and has no close relatives. It is unusual in that both sexes have a crest. It was formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Charitospiza Oberholser, 1905 | Coal-crested finch – Charitospiza eucosma |

#### Orchesticinae

Two species with large thick bills. Parkerthraustes was formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Orchesticus Cabanis, 1851 | Brown tanager – Orchesticus abeillei |
| | Parkerthraustes Remsen, 1997 | Yellow-shouldered grosbeak, Parkerthraustes humeralis |

#### Nemosiinae

Brightly colored, sexually dichromatic birds. Most form single-species flocks.
| Genus | Species |
| Nemosia Vieillot, 1816 | Hooded tanager, Nemosia pileata Cherry-throated tanager, Nemosia rourei |
| Cyanicterus Bonaparte, 1850 | Blue-backed tanager – Cyanicterus cyanicterus |
| Sericossypha Lesson, 1844 | White-capped tanager – Sericossypha albocristata |
| Compsothraupis Richmond, 1915 | Scarlet-throated tanager – Compsothraupis loricata |

#### Emberizoidinae

Grassland dwelling birds that were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Genus | Species |
| Coryphaspiza G.R. Gray, 1840 | Black-masked finch – Coryphaspiza melanotis |
| Embernagra Lesson, 1831 | Serra finch – Embernagra longicauda Pampa finch – Embernagra platensis |
| Emberizoides Temminck, 1822 | Wedge-tailed grass finch – Emberizoides herbicola Duida grass finch – Emberizoides duidae Lesser grass finch – Emberizoides ypiranganus |

#### Porphyrospizinae

Yellow billed birds. The blue finch (Rhopospina caerulescens) was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Incaspiza Ridgway, 1898 | Great Inca finch – Incaspiza pulchra Rufous-backed Inca finch – Incaspiza personata Grey-winged Inca finch – Incaspiza ortizi Buff-bridled Inca finch – Incaspiza laeta Little Inca finch – Incaspiza watkinsi |
| | Rhopospina Cabanis, 1851 | Mourning sierra finch – Rhopospina fruticeti Blue finch – Rhopospina caerulescens Band-tailed sierra finch – Rhopospina alaudina Carbonated sierra finch – Rhopospina carbonaria |

#### Hemithraupinae

These species are sexually dichromatic and many have yellow and black plumage. Except for Heterospingus, they have slender bills.
| Genus | Species |
| Chlorophanes Reichenbach, 1853 | Green honeycreeper – Chlorophanes spiza |
| Iridophanes Ridgway, 1901 | Golden-collared honeycreeper – Iridophanes pulcherrimus |
| Chrysothlypis Berlepsch, 1912 | Black-and-yellow tanager – Chrysothlypis chrysomelas Scarlet-and-white tanager – Chrysothlypis salmoni |
| Heterospingus Ridgway, 1898 | Sulphur-rumped tanager – Heterospingus rubrifrons Scarlet-browed tanager – Heterospingus xanthopygius |
| Hemithraupis Cabanis, 1850 | Guira tanager – Hemithraupis guira Rufous-headed tanager – Hemithraupis ruficapilla Yellow-backed tanager – Hemithraupis flavicollis |

#### Dacninae

Sexually dichromatic species—males have blue plumage and females are green.
| Genus | Species |
| Tersina Vieillot, 1819 | Swallow tanager – Tersina viridis |
| Cyanerpes Oberholser, 1899 | Short-billed honeycreeper – Cyanerpes nitidus Shining honeycreeper – Cyanerpes lucidus Purple honeycreeper – Cyanerpes caeruleus Red-legged honeycreeper – Cyanerpes cyaneus |
| Dacnis Cuvier, 1816 | Scarlet-breasted dacnis – Dacnis berlepschi Scarlet-thighed dacnis – Dacnis venusta Blue dacnis – Dacnis cayana Yellow-bellied dacnis – Dacnis flaviventer Turquoise dacnis – Dacnis hartlaubi Black-faced dacnis – Dacnis lineata Yellow-tufted dacnis – Dacnis egregia Viridian dacnis – Dacnis viguieri Black-legged dacnis – Dacnis nigripes White-bellied dacnis – Dacnis albiventris |

#### Saltatorinae

Mainly arboreal with long tails and thick bills. Formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Saltatricula Burmeister, 1861 | Many-colored Chaco finch – Saltatricula multicolor Black-throated saltator – Saltatricula atricollis |
| | Saltator Vieillot, 1816 | Orinoco saltator – Saltator orenocensis Green-winged saltator – Saltator similis Bluish-grey saltator or Amazonian grey saltator – Saltator coerulescens Cinnamon-bellied saltator or northern grey saltator – Saltator grandis Olive-grey saltator or Caribbean grey saltator – Saltator olivascens Streaked saltator – Saltator striatipectus Lesser Antillean saltator – Saltator albicollis Buff-throated saltator – Saltator maximus Black-winged saltator – Saltator atripennis Black-headed saltator – Saltator atriceps Black-cowled saltator – Saltator nigriceps Black-throated grosbeak – Saltator fuliginosus Slate-coloured grosbeak – Saltator grossus Masked saltator – Saltator cinctus Thick-billed saltator – Saltator maxillosus Golden-billed saltator – Saltator aurantiirostris |

#### Coerebinae

This subfamily includes Darwin's finches that are endemic to the Galápagos Islands and Cocos Island. Most of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed in Parulidae and the orangequit that was placed in Thraupidae. These species build domed or covered nests with side entrances. They have evolved a variety of foraging techniques, including nectar-feeding (Coereba, Euneornis), seed-eating (Geospiza, Loxigilla, Tiaris), and insect gleaning (Certhidea).
| Genus | Species |
| Coereba Vieillot, 1809 | Bananaquit – Coereba flaveola |
| Tiaris Swainson, 1827 | Yellow-faced grassquit – Tiaris olivaceus |
| Euneornis Fitzinger, 1856 | Orangequit – Euneornis campestris |
| Melopyrrha Bonaparte, 1853 | Puerto Rican bullfinch – Melopyrrha portoricensis (formerly placed in Loxigilla) †St. Kitts bullfinch – Melopyrrha grandis Greater Antillean bullfinch – Melopyrrha violacea (formerly placed in Loxigilla) Cuban bullfinch – Melopyrrha nigra Grand Cayman bullfinch – Melopyrrha taylori |
| Loxipasser Bryant, 1866 | Yellow-shouldered grassquit – Loxipasser anoxanthus |
| Phonipara Bonaparte, 1850 | Cuban grassquit – Phonipara canora |
| Loxigilla Lesson, 1831 | Lesser Antillean bullfinch – Loxigilla noctis Barbados bullfinch – Loxigilla barbadensis |
| Melanospiza Ridgway, 1897 | Saint Lucia black finch – Melanospiza richardsoni Black-faced grassquit – Melanospiza bicolor |
| Asemospiza Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 | Sooty grassquit – Asemospiza fuliginosa Dull-coloured grassquit – Asemospiza obscura |
Darwin's finches:
| Genus | Species |
| Certhidea Gould, 1837 | Green warbler-finch – Certhidea olivacea Grey warbler-finch – Certhidea fusca |
| Platyspiza Ridgway, 1897 | Vegetarian finch – Platyspiza crassirostris |
| Pinaroloxias Sharpe, 1885 | Cocos finch – Pinaroloxias inornata |
| Camarhynchus Gould, 1837 | Small tree finch – Camarhynchus parvulus Medium tree finch – Camarhynchus pauper Large tree finch – Camarhynchus psittacula Woodpecker finch – Camarhynchus pallidus Mangrove finch – Camarhynchus heliobates |
| Geospiza Gould, 1837 | Española cactus finch – Geospiza conirostris Sharp-beaked ground finch – Geospiza difficilis Vampire ground finch – Geospiza septentrionalis Genovesa ground finch – Geospiza acutirostris Medium ground finch – Geospiza fortis Small ground finch – Geospiza fuliginosa Large ground finch – Geospiza magnirostris Common cactus finch – Geospiza scandens Genovesa cactus finch – Geospiza propinqua |

#### Tachyphoninae

Most of these are lowland species. Many have ornamental features such as crests, and many have sexually dichromatic plumage.
| Genus | Species |
| Volatinia Reichenbach, 1850 | Blue-black grassquit – Volatinia jacarina |
| Conothraupis Sclater, PL, 1880 | Black-and-white tanager – Conothraupis speculigera Cone-billed tanager – Conothraupis mesoleuca |
| Creurgops Sclater, PL, 1858 | Rufous-crested tanager – Creurgops verticalis Slaty tanager – Creurgops dentatus |
| Eucometis Sclater, PL, 1856 | Grey-headed tanager – Eucometis penicillata |
| Trichothraupis Cabanis, 1851 | Black-goggled tanager – Trichothraupis melanops |
| Heliothraupis Lane et al., 2021 | Inti tanager – Heliothraupis oneilli |
| Loriotus Jarocki, 1821 | Flame-crested tanager – Loriotus cristatus Yellow-crested tanager – Loriotus rufiventer White-shouldered tanager – Loriotus luctuosus |
| Coryphospingus Cabanis, 1851 | Grey pileated finch – Coryphospingus pileatus Red pileated finch – Coryphospingus cucullatus |
| Tachyphonus Vieillot, 1816 | Fulvous-crested tanager – Tachyphonus surinamus Tawny-crested tanager – Tachyphonus delatrii Ruby-crowned tanager – Tachyphonus coronatus White-lined tanager – Tachyphonus rufus Red-shouldered tanager – Tachyphonus phoenicius |
| Rhodospingus Sharpe, 1888 | Crimson-breasted finch – Rhodospingus cruentus |
| Lanio Vieillot, 1816 | Fulvous shrike-tanager – Lanio fulvus White-winged shrike-tanager – Lanio versicolor Black-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio aurantius White-throated shrike-tanager – Lanio leucothorax |
| Ramphocelus Desmarest, 1805 | Crimson-collared tanager – Ramphocelus sanguinolentus Masked crimson tanager – Ramphocelus nigrogularis Crimson-backed tanager – Ramphocelus dimidiatus Huallaga tanager – Ramphocelus melanogaster Silver-beaked tanager – Ramphocelus carbo Brazilian tanager – Ramphocelus bresilius Passerini's tanager – Ramphocelus passerinii Cherrie's tanager – Ramphocelus costaricensis Flame-rumped tanager – Ramphocelus flammigerus Lemon-rumped tanager – R. f. icteronotus |

#### Sporophilinae

These species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
| | Sporophila Cabanis, 1844 | Seedeaters and seed finches (includes species previously assigned to Dolospingus and Oryzoborus) 41 species: Lesson's seedeater – Sporophila bouvronidesLined seedeater – Sporophila lineolaCinnamon-rumped seedeater – Sporophila torqueolaMorelet's seedeater – Sporophila morelletiVariable seedeater – Sporophila corvinaGrey seedeater – Sporophila intermediaWing-barred seedeater – Sporophila americanaWhite-naped seedeater – Sporophila fringilloidesBlack-and-white seedeater – Sporophila luctuosaDouble-collared seedeater – Sporophila caerulescensYellow-bellied seedeater – Sporophila nigricollisDubois's seedeater – Sporophila ardesiacaThick-billed seed finch – Sporophila funereaChestnut-bellied seed finch – Sporophila angolensisNicaraguan seed finch – Sporophila nuttingiGreat-billed seed finch – Sporophila maximilianiLarge-billed seed finch – Sporophila crassirostrisBlack-billed seed finch – Sporophila atrirostrisSlate-coloured seedeater – Sporophila schistaceaTemminck's seedeater – Sporophila falcirostrisBuffy-fronted seedeater – Sporophila frontalisPlumbeous seedeater – Sporophila plumbeaTropeiro seedeater – Sporophila beltoniRusty-collared seedeater – Sporophila collarisWhite-throated seedeater – Sporophila albogularisWhite-bellied seedeater – Sporophila leucopteraParrot-billed seedeater – Sporophila peruvianaChestnut-throated seedeater, Sporophila telascoDrab seedeater – Sporophila simplexChestnut-bellied seedeater – Sporophila castaneiventrisRuddy-breasted seedeater – Sporophila minutaCopper seedeater – Sporophila bouvreuilBlack-and-tawny seedeater – Sporophila nigrorufaTawny-bellied seedeater – Sporophila hypoxanthaDark-throated seedeater – Sporophila ruficollisPearly-bellied seedeater – Sporophila pileataRufous-rumped seedeater – Sporophila hypochromaChestnut seedeater – Sporophila cinnamomeaMarsh seedeater – Sporophila palustrisBlack-bellied seedeater – Sporophila melanogasterIbera seedeater – Sporophila iberaensis |

#### Poospizinae

Some of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Genus | Species |
| Piezorina Lafresnaye, 1843 | Cinereous finch – Piezorina cinerea |
| Xenospingus Cabanis, 1867 | Slender-billed finch – Xenospingus concolor |
| Cnemoscopus Bangs & Penard, 1919 | Grey-hooded bush tanager – Cnemoscopus rubrirostris |
| Pseudospingus Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896 | Drab hemispingus – Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus Black-headed hemispingus – Pseudospingus verticalis |
| Poospiza Cabanis, 1847 | Bolivian warbling finch – Poospiza boliviana Cinnamon warbling finch – Poospiza ornata Black-and-rufous warbling finch – Poospiza nigrorufa Black-and-chestnut warbling finch – Poospiza whitii Collared warbling finch – Poospiza hispaniolensis Rufous-breasted warbling finch – Poospiza rubecula Tucumán mountain finch – Poospiza baeri Cochabamba mountain finch – Poospiza garleppi Slaty-backed hemispingus – Poospiza goeringi Rufous-browed hemispingus – Poospiza rufosuperciliaris |
| Kleinothraupis Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 | Grey-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis reyi Black-capped hemispingus – Kleinothraupis atropileus White-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis auricularis Orange-browed hemispingus – Kleinothraupis calophrys Parodi's hemispingus – Kleinothraupis parodii |
| Sphenopsis Sclater, 1862 | Oleaginous hemispingus – Sphenopsis frontalis Black-eared hemispingus – Sphenopsis melanotis Piura hemispingus – Sphenopsis piurae Western hemispingus – Sphenopsis ochracea |
| Thlypopsis Cabanis, 1851 | Fulvous-headed tanager – Thlypopsis fulviceps Rufous-chested tanager – Thlypopsis ornata Brown-flanked tanager – Thlypopsis pectoralis Orange-headed tanager – Thlypopsis sordida Buff-bellied tanager – Thlypopsis inornata Rust-and-yellow tanager – Thlypopsis ruficeps |
| Castanozoster Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 | Bay-chested warbling finch – Castanozoster thoracicus |
| Donacospiza Cabanis, 1851 | Long-tailed reed finch – Donacospiza albifrons |
| Cypsnagra Lesson, R, 1831 | White-rumped tanager – Cypsnagra hirundinacea |
| Poospizopsis Berlepsch, 1893 | Rufous-sided warbling finch – Poospizopsis hypocondria Chestnut-breasted mountain finch – Poospizopsis caesar |
| Urothraupis Taczanowski & Berlepsch, 1885 | Black-backed bush tanager – Urothraupis stolzmanni |
| Nephelornis Lowery & Tallman, 1976 | Pardusco – Nephelornis oneilli |
| Microspingus Taczanowski, 1874 | Buff-throated warbling finch – Microspingus lateralis Grey-throated warbling finch – Microspingus cabanisi Rusty-browed warbling finch – Microspingus erythrophrys Plain-tailed warbling finch – Microspingus alticola Ringed warbling finch – Microspingus torquatus Three-striped hemispingus – Microspingus trifasciatus Black-capped warbling finch – Microspingus melanoleucus Cinereous warbling finch – Microspingus cinereus |

#### Diglossinae

This is a morphologically diverse group that includes seed-eaters (Nesospiza, Sicalis, Catamenia, Haplospiza), arthropod feeders (Conirostrum), a bamboo specialist (Acanthidops), an aphid feeder (Xenodacnis), and boulder field specialists (Idiopsar). Many species live at high altitudes. Conirostrum was previously placed in Parulidae, Diglossa was placed in Thraupidae, and the remaining genera were placed in Emberizidae.
| Genus | Species |
| Conirostrum d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838 | Chestnut-vented conebill – Conirostrum speciosum White-eared conebill – Conirostrum leucogenys Bicolored conebill – Conirostrum bicolor Pearly-breasted conebill – Conirostrum margaritae Cinereous conebill – Conirostrum cinereum Tamarugo conebill – Conirostrum tamarugense White-browed conebill – Conirostrum ferrugineiventre Rufous-browed conebill – Conirostrum rufum Blue-backed conebill – Conirostrum sitticolor Capped conebill – Conirostrum albifrons Giant conebill – Conirostrum binghami (formerly Oreomanes fraseri) |
| Sicalis F. Boie, 1828 | 13 species Stripe-tailed yellow finch – Sicalis citrinaSulphur-throated finch – Sicalis taczanowskiiBright-rumped yellow finch – Sicalis uropygialisSaffron finch – Sicalis flaveolaOrange-fronted yellow finch – Sicalis columbianaGrassland yellow finch – Sicalis luteolaCitron-headed yellow finch – Sicalis luteocephalaPatagonian yellow finch – Sicalis lebruniGreenish yellow finch – Sicalis olivascensMonte yellow finch – Sicalis mendozaeGreater yellow finch – Sicalis auriventrisRaimondi's yellow finch – Sicalis raimondiiPuna yellow finch – Sicalis lutea |
| Phrygilus Cabanis, 1844 | Black-hooded sierra finch – Phrygilus atriceps Peruvian sierra finch – Phrygilus punensis Grey-hooded sierra finch – Phrygilus gayi Patagonian sierra finch – Phrygilus patagonicus |
| Nesospiza Cabanis, 1873 | Inaccessible Island finch – Nesospiza acunhae Nightingale Island finch – Nesospiza questi Wilkins's finch – Nesospiza wilkinsi |
| Rowettia Lowe, 1923 | Gough finch – Rowettia goughensis |
| Melanodera Bonaparte, 1850 | White-bridled finch – Melanodera melanodera Yellow-bridled finch – Melanodera xanthogramma |
| Geospizopsis Bonaparte, 1856 | Plumbeous sierra finch – Geospizopsis unicolor Ash-breasted sierra finch – Geospizopsis plebejus |
| Haplospiza Cabanis, 1851 | Slaty finch – Haplospiza rustica Uniform finch – Haplospiza unicolor |
| Acanthidops Ridgway, 1882 | Peg-billed finch – Acanthidops bairdi |
| Xenodacnis Cabanis, 1873 | Tit-like dacnis – Xenodacnis parina Streaked dacnis – Xenodacnis petersi |
| Idiopsar Cassin, 1867 | Red-backed sierra finch – Idiopsar dorsalis White-throated sierra finch – Idiopsar erythronotus Glacier finch – Idiopsar speculifer Boulder finch – Idiopsar brachyurus |
| Catamenia Bonaparte, 1850 | Band-tailed seedeater – Catamenia analis Plain-colored seedeater – Catamenia inornata Paramo seedeater – Catamenia homochroa |
| Diglossa Wagler, 1832 | 18 species Golden-eyed flowerpiercer – Diglossa glaucaBluish flowerpiercer – Diglossa caerulescensMasked flowerpiercer – Diglossa cyaneaIndigo flowerpiercer – Diglossa indigoticaRusty flowerpiercer – Diglossa sittoidesSlaty flowerpiercer – Diglossa plumbeaCinnamon-bellied flowerpiercer – Diglossa baritulaMoustached flowerpiercer – Diglossa mystacalisGlossy flowerpiercer – Diglossa lafresnayiiChestnut-bellied flowerpiercer – Diglossa gloriosissimaScaled flowerpiercer – Diglossa duidaeGreater flowerpiercer – Diglossa majorVenezuelan flowerpiercer – Diglossa venezuelensisWhite-sided flowerpiercer – Diglossa albilateraGrey-bellied flowerpiercer – Diglossa carbonariaBlack-throated flowerpiercer, Diglossa brunneiventrisMérida flowerpiercer – Diglossa gloriosaBlack flowerpiercer – Diglossa humeralis |

#### Thraupinae

Typical tanagers.
| Genus | Species |
| Calochaetes Sclater, PL, 1879 | Vermilion tanager – Calochaetes coccineus |
| Iridosornis Lesson, 1844 | Purplish-mantled tanager – Iridosornis porphyrocephalus Yellow-throated tanager – Iridosornis analis Golden-collared tanager – Iridosornis jelskii Golden-crowned tanager – Iridosornis rufivertex Yellow-scarfed tanager – Iridosornis reinhardti |
| Rauenia Wolters, 1980 | Blue-and-yellow tanager – Rauenia bonariensis |
| Pipraeidea Swainson, 1827 | Fawn-breasted tanager – Pipraeidea melanonota |
| Pseudosaltator K.J. Burns, Unitt & N.A. Mason, 2016 | Rufous-bellied mountain tanager – Pseudosaltator rufiventris |
| Dubusia Bonaparte, 1850 | Buff-breasted mountain tanager – Dubusia taeniata Carriker's mountain tanager – Dubusia carrikeri Streak-crowned mountain tanager – Dubusia stictocephala Chestnut-bellied mountain tanager – Dubusia castaneoventris |
| Buthraupis Cabanis, 1851 | Hooded mountain tanager – Buthraupis montana |
| Sporathraupis Ridgway, 1898 | Blue-capped tanager – Sporathraupis cyanocephala |
| Tephrophilus R. T. Moore, 1934 | Masked mountain tanager – Tephrophilus wetmorei |
| Chlorornis Reichenbach, 1850 | Grass-green tanager – Chlorornis riefferii |
| Cnemathraupis Penard, 1919 | Black-chested mountain tanager – Cnemathraupis eximia Golden-backed mountain tanager – Cnemathraupis aureodorsalis |
| Anisognathus Reichenbach, 1850 | Santa Marta mountain tanager – Anisognathus melanogenys Lacrimose mountain tanager – Anisognathus lacrymosus Scarlet-bellied mountain tanager – Anisognathus igniventris Blue-winged mountain tanager – Anisognathus somptuosus Black-chinned mountain tanager – Anisognathus notabilis |
| Chlorochrysa Bonaparte, 1851 | Glistening-green tanager – Chlorochrysa phoenicotis Orange-eared tanager – Chlorochrysa calliparaea Multicoloured tanager – Chlorochrysa nitidissima |
| Wetmorethraupis Lowery & O'Neill, 1964 | Orange-throated tanager – Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron |
| Bangsia Penard, 1919 | Blue-and-gold tanager – Bangsia arcaei Black-and-gold tanager – Bangsia melanochlamys Golden-chested tanager – Bangsia rothschildi Moss-backed tanager – Bangsia edwardsi Gold-ringed tanager – Bangsia aureocincta Yellow-green tanager – Bangsia flavovirens |
| Lophospingus Cabanis, 1878 | Grey-crested finch – Lophospingus griseocristatus Black-crested finch – Lophospingus pusillus |
| Neothraupis Hellmayr, 1936 | Shrike-like tanager – Neothraupis fasciata |
| Diuca Reichenbach, 1850 | Diuca finch – Diuca diuca |
| Gubernatrix Lesson, 1837 | Yellow cardinal – Gubernatrix cristata |
| Stephanophorus Strickland, 1841 | Diademed tanager – Stephanophorus diadematus |
| Cissopis Vieillot, 1816 | Magpie tanager – Cissopis leverianus |
| Schistochlamys Reichenbach, 1850 | Cinnamon tanager – Schistochlamys ruficapillus Black-faced tanager – Schistochlamys melanopis |
| Paroaria Bonaparte, 1832 | Red-crested cardinal – Paroaria coronata Red-cowled cardinal – Paroaria dominicana Red-capped cardinal – Paroaria gularis Masked cardinal – Paroaria nigrogenis Crimson-fronted cardinal – Paroaria baeri Yellow-billed cardinal – Paroaria capitata |
| Ixothraupis Bonaparte, 1851 | Dotted tanager – Ixothraupis varia Rufous-throated tanager – Ixothraupis rufigula Spotted tanager – Ixothraupis punctata Speckled tanager – Ixothraupis guttata Yellow-bellied tanager – Ixothraupis xanthogastra |
| Chalcothraupis Bonaparte, 1851 | Golden-naped tanager – Chalcothraupis ruficervix |
| Poecilostreptus Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016 | Azure-rumped tanager – Poecilostreptus cabanisi Grey-and-gold tanager – Poecilostreptus palmeri |
| Thraupis F. Boie, 1826 | Blue-grey tanager – Thraupis episcopus Glaucous tanager – Thraupis glaucocolpa Sayaca tanager – Thraupis sayaca Azure-shouldered tanager – Thraupis cyanoptera Golden-chevroned tanager – Thraupis ornata Blue-capped tanager – Thraupis cyanocephala Blue-and-yellow tanager – Thraupis bonariensis Darwin's tanager – T. b. darwinii Yellow-winged tanager – Thraupis abbas Palm tanager – Thraupis palmarum |
| Stilpnia Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016 | 14 species Black-headed tanager – Stilpnia cyanopteraSilver-backed tanager – Stilpnia viridicollisSira tanager – Stilpnia phillipsiStraw-backed tanager – Stilpnia argyrofengesBlack-capped tanager – Stilpnia heineiGolden-hooded tanager – Stilpnia larvataBlue-necked tanager – Stilpnia cyanicollisMasked tanager – Stilpnia nigrocinctaBlack-backed tanager – Stilpnia peruvianaChestnut-backed tanager – Stilpnia preciosaGreen-capped tanager – Stilpnia meyerdeschauenseeiScrub tanager – Stilpnia vitriolinaBurnished-buff tanager – Stilpnia cayanaLesser Antillean tanager – Stilpnia cucullata |
| Tangara Brisson, 1760 | 28 species Blue-and-black tanager – Tangara vassoriiBeryl-spangled tanager – Tangara nigroviridisSpangle-cheeked tanager – Tangara dowiiGreen-naped tanager – Tangara fucosaBlue-browed tanager – Tangara cyanotisRufous-cheeked tanager – Tangara rufigenisMetallic-green tanager – Tangara labradoridesBay-headed tanager – Tangara gyrolaRufous-throated tanager – Tangara rufigulaGolden-eared tanager – Tangara chrysotisSaffron-crowned tanager – Tangara xanthocephalaFlame-faced tanager – Tangara parzudakiiBlue-whiskered tanager – Tangara johannaeGreen-and-gold tanager – Tangara schrankiiGolden tanager – Tangara arthusEmerald tanager – Tangara floridaSilver-throated tanager – Tangara icterocephalaSeven-coloured tanager – Tangara fastuosaGreen-headed tanager – Tangara seledonRed-necked tanager – Tangara cyanocephalaBrassy-breasted tanager – Tangara desmarestiGilt-edged tanager – Tangara cyanoventrisPlain-coloured tanager – Tangara inornataTurquoise tanager – Tangara mexicanaWhite-bellied tanager – Tangara brasiliensisParadise tanager – Tangara chilensisOpal-crowned tanager – Tangara callophrysOpal-rumped tanager – Tangara velia |

### Genera formerly placed in Thraupidae

Passerellidae – New World sparrows
* Chlorospingus – eight species - bush-tanagers
* Oreothraupis – tanager finch
Cardinalidae – cardinals
* Piranga – 9 species - northern tanagers
* Habia – five species - ant-tanagers or habias
* Chlorothraupis – three species
* Amaurospiza – four species
Fringillidae – subfamily Euphoniinae
* Euphonia – 27 species
* Chlorophonia – five species
Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan tanagers
* Microligea – green-tailed warbler
* Xenoligea – white-winged warbler
* Phaenicophilus – two species
Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid tanagers
* Mitrospingus – two species
* Orthogonys – olive-green tanager
* Lamprospiza – red-billed pied tanager
Nesospingidae
* Nesospingus – Puerto Rican tanager
Spindalidae
* Spindalis – four species - spindalises
Calyptophilidae
* Calyptophilus – two species - chat-tanagers
Rhodinocichlidae
* Rhodinocichla – rosy thrush-tanager