tanager

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of numerous, often brightly colored songbirds native to the Americas

   A scarlet tanager flashed red and black between the pine branches.

From New Latin Tanagra, based on Portuguese tangara, which was borrowed from Old Tupi tangara, a name for a colorful bird. The common name now covers birds in the tanager family Thraupidae and several traditionally named tanagers placed in related families.

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