Puerto Rican Tanager

The Puerto Rican tanager, known locally as llorosa, is a unique small bird endemic to Puerto Rico, distinguished by its olive-brown and pale grey-to-white coloring, with a prominent white wing spot and dark crown in adults. It's the sole member of its genus and recent studies suggest it may belong to its own family or the Phaenicophilidae. Its nearest relatives are thought to be the spindalises. Adult males can be identified by their brown-black maxilla and white mandible, while females have an all-black bill. Both sexes make a harsh call note and have a light, sweet breeding song. They are sociable birds, often found at the heart of mixed feeding flocks and roost communally in bamboo or palms. Feeding mainly on invertebrates, fruits, and occasionally small lizards and frog species like the coquí, they exhibit strong territorial behavior during the breeding season from January to late-July. They nest on tree branches using various plant materials and lay 2-3 white, splotched eggs. Predators include the Puerto Rican owl and the sharp-shinned hawk. They inhabit mid- to high-elevation montane forests and are particularly concentrated in areas like El Yunque National Forest and Maricao State Forest. Habitat fragmentation due to deforestation has impacted their distribution.