Cissopis leverianus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
The magpie tanager (Cissopis leverianus) is a South American species of tanager. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Cissopis. As suggested by its common name, this blue-black and white species is superficially reminiscent of a European magpie. With a total length of 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in), a large percentage of which is tail, it is the longest species of tanager. It weighs 69–76 g (2.4–2.7 oz).
It is widespread in humid tropical and subtropical woodland, plantations, second growth, and parks in South America east of the Andes. It is absent from drier regions (such as the Caatinga) and most of north-eastern Brazil. In densely forested regions, it mainly occurs in relatively open sections (such as near major rivers). In such regions it is spreading with deforestation, which opens up the habitat. It is largely restricted to lowlands, but occurs up to an altitude of 2,000 m (6,600 ft) on the east Andean slopes. It is common throughout most of its range, but rarer in the Guianas.
It typically occurs in conspicuous, noisy pairs or groups of up to 10 individuals and commonly takes part in mixed-species flocks. It often moves its long tail up and down. It eats seeds, fruits, and insects. The cup-shaped nest is lined with grass, leaves, or other plant materials and is located low in trees near the ground or in shrubs in dense vegetation. The 2 eggs are reddish-brown with brown spots. The incubation time is 12–13 days in captivity. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Itatiaia National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Iguaçu National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 6 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 7 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 8 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 9 | Serra da Canastra National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 10 | Chingaza National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 11 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 12 | Chapada dos Guimarães National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogota | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aviario Nacional de Colombia | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Tanager sighting in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve on a given day, based on 36 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 148th most-seen of the 328 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January, March–April and October–November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Tanager in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in February, May–September and December, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Magpie Tanager sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
6th of 12
Of the 12 parks where we can rate Magpie Tanager sightings, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve ranks 6th at about 10%. The best odds are in Iguazú National Park (Argentina, about 30%), Itatiaia National Park (Brazil, about 30%) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil, about 20%).
Same family: Thraupidae
The closest relatives of the Magpie Tanager that you can see in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (family Thraupidae, Tanagers and Allies) are Red-capped Cardinal (about 60%), Blue-gray Tanager (about 30%) and Palm Tanager (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Magpie Tanager is recorded against all the birds logged in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (36 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
