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Black-and-yellow Tanager
Birds Active during the day

Black-and-yellow Tanager

Chrysothlypis chrysomelas

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A radiant flash of gold and obsidian, the Black-and-yellow Tanager is a jewel of the Central American cloud forests. Often found in social flocks, these energetic birds bring vibrant life to the humid highland canopies of Costa Rica and Panama.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 11.5–12.5 cm (4.5–4.9 in); Weight: 11–14 g (0.4–0.5 oz)

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Colors

Males are vibrant canary-yellow with contrasting jet-black wings and tail. Females are olive-yellow above and bright yellow below.

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Key Features

  • Bright yellow body with solid black wings (male)
  • Olive-green back with yellow underparts (female)
  • Short, pointed black bill
  • Small, active build
  • High-pitched 'tsip' calls
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When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day
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Peak hours 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Season Year-round
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Diet Primarily a fruit eater (frugivore) specializing in small berries and mistletoe fruit, supplemented by small insects and spiders gleaned from foliage.
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Habitat Humid montane forests, cloud forest edges, and mature second-growth forests in foothills.

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Where Does the Black-and-yellow Tanager Live?

This stunning species is a regional endemic, naturally found only within the lush mountain ranges of Central America. Its core territory spans the Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica and Panama, though it also inhabits the Pacific slopes in the southern parts of the Panamanian isthmus. Because it prefers the mid-elevation 'foothill' zone, it serves as a quintessential representative of the rich biodiversity found in the Talamancan montane forests.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries
58K km² Range
Least Concern Conservation
CR Costa Rica
Marginal
PA Panama
Marginal
eco
iNaturalist / Verified observation data
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Behavior

The Black-and-yellow Tanager is a high-energy canopy specialist, almost always found in the upper reaches of the forest. They are rarely seen alone, usually traveling in small family groups of three to six individuals. These birds are foundational members of mixed-species foraging flocks, often leading or following honeycreepers and other tanagers through the misty highland foliage.

Their movement is characterized by a restless, hopping rhythm. They rarely stay on one branch for more than a few seconds, constantly fluttering their wings as they glean insects from leaf surfaces or hover briefly to pluck small berries. Despite their high-altitude home, they are remarkably bold and less skittish around humans than many other forest-dwelling birds.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture the Black-and-yellow Tanager on camera, height is the most critical factor. Because these birds are canopy dwellers, a ground-level camera will almost never see them. If your property is on a slope, mount your camera at eye level with the tree line or use a specialized mount to secure it to a balcony railing or a high branch overlooking fruiting trees.

Baiting with fruit is highly effective, but the placement must be right. Use an elevated platform feeder at least 15 feet off the ground and stock it with soft tropical fruits like overripe bananas, papaya, or oranges. These birds are social, so if you see one, keep your camera recording; several more are likely to follow in quick succession. High-speed shutter settings are essential, as their movements are incredibly fast and jerky.

For the best visual results, time your camera's active window to the early morning hours when the mist is lifting from the cloud forest. The contrast between the male's brilliant yellow plumage and jet-black wings is spectacular but can easily 'blow out' in direct, harsh noon sunlight. Setting your exposure compensation slightly lower can help preserve the detail in the bright yellow feathers during the golden hour.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black-and-yellow Tanager.

Silver-throated Tanager

Features a white-silver throat and green edging on the wings, lacking the solid black wings of the Black-and-yellow Tanager.

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Much smaller with a short tail; males have dark blue upperparts rather than just black wings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are most active in the early morning, roughly between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM, when they move through the canopy in mixed flocks to feed.
Maintain native fruiting trees like Melastomes and provide elevated fruit feeders with papaya and banana at heights above 10-15 feet.
Their diet consists of small forest berries, mistletoe fruits, and a variety of small insects and spiders found among the leaves.
Only in 'forest-suburban' interfaces in the Costa Rican or Panamanian foothills; they require nearby dense forest canopy to thrive.
Male Black-and-yellow Tanagers have solid jet-black wings and tails, whereas Silver-throated Tanagers have green-streaked wings and a distinct pale throat patch.

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