Cissopis leverianus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
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 |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Tanager sighting in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, based on 589 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 66th most-seen of the 352 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September and November
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Magpie Tanager in Itatiaia National Park on a given day, against about 10% in May, the lowest month.
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.
Among the best
Of the 12 parks where we can rate Magpie Tanager sightings, Itatiaia National Park ranks 2nd at about 30%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Iguazú National Park (Argentina, about 30%).
Same family: Thraupidae
The closest relatives of the Magpie Tanager that you can see in Itatiaia National Park (family Thraupidae, Tanagers and Allies) are Saffron Finch (about 60%), Sayaca Tanager (about 60%) and Green-winged Saltator (about 60%), 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 Itatiaia National Park (589 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.
