About Cypsnagra hirundinacea (R.Lesson, 1831)
The white-rumped tanager, with the scientific name Cypsnagra hirundinacea, is a South American bird species that belongs to the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only species classified within the genus Cypsnagra. Adults of this species measure 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weigh between 25–34 g (0.88–1.20 oz). Their range is centered mostly in Brazil, and they can also be found in Paraguay, Bolivia, and Suriname, occurring at elevations between 700–1,000 m (2,300–3,300 ft). They live in grassland habitats that contain only a small number of scattered trees. In Brazil, this species forms territorial social groups that contain three to six individual birds. They forage for insects either by searching for prey on the ground within grass, or by catching insects mid-flight through a hunting behavior called sallying. Their diet is made up primarily of beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, though they will occasionally consume fruit. They build cup-shaped nests from woven grasses, placing these nests only 1–2 metres (3–7 ft) above the ground. A clutch contains 3–4 blue eggs, which have brown or black speckles concentrated around the larger end of the egg. Helpers that were born in the previous breeding season assist the breeding mated pair with caring for the nest and nestlings.
