The Silver-breasted Tanager is a small and colorful bird that belongs to the Thraupidae family, along with other tanagers, honeycreepers, and euphonias. It is endemic to the Atlantic Forest in South-eastern Brazil, where it inhabits humid highland forests1. It is by most considered a subspecies of the Opal-rumped Tanager, but some list it as a distinct species Tangara cyanomelas.

The Silver-breasted Tanager has a black bill, a stout body, and a long tail. It measures about 13.5 cm (5.3 in) in length and weighs about 18 g (0.63 oz)3. It has a distinctive plumage, with a silvery-white breast, a green back, a yellow belly, and a blue cap and nape. The male and female are similar, but the female has a duller cap and nape.

The Silver-breasted Tanager feeds mainly on fruits, especially melastomes, but also takes insects, seeds, and nectar. It forages in the canopy and subcanopy of the forest, often in pairs or small groups, sometimes with mixed-species flocks. It has a loud and musical voice, and can produce a variety of sounds, including imitations of other birds. It has a distinctive call note, described as a sharp “tseet”, and a song that resembles a robin’s but is clearer and less nasal.

The Silver-breasted Tanager breeds from September to January, depending on the location. It builds a cup-shaped nest of plant fibers, usually in a fork of a tree branch. The female lays 2 to 3 eggs, which are white with brown spots. The male helps to incubate the eggs and feed the young. The chicks fledge after about 15 days, and stay with their parents for another month or so.

The Silver-breasted Tanager is a resident bird that does not migrate. It is not threatened by extinction, and has a large and stable population. However, it may face some threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, as well as from predators, parasites, and diseases. Therefore, it is important to protect and conserve its natural environment, and to appreciate its beauty and role in the ecosystem.