Calyptophilidae – Chat-Tanagers

The Calyptophilidae (Chat-tanagers) are a newly recognised passerine family that are endemic to the island of Hispaniola.  They were formerly classified as Thraupidae (Tanagers) but they look and behave similar to some of the foliage-gleaners and spinetails of Central and South America.  Recent genetic research shows that they are not closely related to either of those groups, or tanagers but are a separate branch that diverged from their nearest relatives, the spindalises and Puerto Rican Tanager, at least ten million years ago.

Formerly considered conspecific under C. frugivorus with the common name of Chat Tanager. The family is now reclassified as two species based on differences in size, structure, coloration of bare parts, behaviour, and vocalisations.  Further subdivision of the family is possible, pending further research into isolated, little-known forms of both species.  However, two of the three variations have not been seen for some time and may well be extinct.

Both the currently identified species are restricted to small ranges, within which habitat is lost and degraded. The population is furthermore suffering from predation by introduced mammals and declining at a moderately rapid rate. Both species are therefore evaluated as vulnerable.

Western Chat-Tanager Calyptophilus tertius – Dubi Shapiro

Western Chat-Tanager is a long-tailed, shy, ground-feeding species of wet broadleaf forests with dense undergrowth, especially near streams from 700 to 2,000 meters elevation. They are dark brown, with a white throat that shades into a grey-brown chest and belly. They generally feed in thick leaf litter. This song is a loud, whistled ‘tsew, tsee-ew, tsee-ew, tsu, tsu, tsu,’ with some variations, with the final notes getting faster. The full song is not always given and just snatches are heard. Songs are more clearly whistled than those of Eastern Chat-Tanager. Its call is a ‘chep’.

Eastern Chat-Tanager Calyptophilus frugivorus – Dubi Shapiro

They are very similar to the Eastern Chat-Tanager, which is a bit smaller and has a yellow eye-ring. It too is a long-tailed, shy, ground-feeding species of wet broadleaf forests with dense undergrowth, especially near streams but ranging from sea level to 2,000 meters elevation. It also feeds in thick leaf litter. Songs include a squeaky ‘whi whi wit which-you’ and a ‘tsit tsit tsit-sweeek’, with a thin, high-pitched, and upslurred ‘sweeek’. Sometimes a, ‘whe-whe-ts-tsi’ and ‘pit-tee-oo ts tsi tsi tsi’. Songs are not as clearly whistled as are those of the Western Chat-Tanager. The contact call is a high, thin ‘tsit’.