The Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus) is a seedeating bird. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), it actually seems to be closer to the tanagers (Thraupidae).^[2] It breeds from southeastern Mexico to western Ecuador and northeastern Brazil.

This is the type species of Saltator. Consequently, it and its closest allies would retain the genus name when this apparently polyphyletic group^[2] is eventually split up.

The Buff-throated Saltator is on average 20 cm long and weighs 42-52 g. The adult has a slate-grey head with a white supercilium and a greenish crown. The upperparts are olive green, the underparts are grey becoming buff on the lower belly, and the throat is buff, edged with black. The thick convex bill and legs are black. Young birds are duller, and have a white-mottled blackish throat and breast, and brown markings on the lower underparts.

The common call is a high seeeer. Males duet melodiously with a warbled cheery cheery answered by cheery to you.

This is a species of dense vegetation. The Buff-throated Saltator feeds on fruit,^[3] buds, nectar and slow-moving insects. It forages at low and mid levels, sometimes with mixed species flocks.

The two pale blue eggs per clutch measure some 22–32 mm long by about 16.5-21.5 mm wide and weigh about 4.8-6.1 grams each.^[4] They are laid in a bulky cup nest up to 2 m high in a tree or bush.

Footnotes

1. ^ BirdLife International (2012). "Saltator maximus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106009633. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
2. ^ ^{a b} See the genus article for details
3. ^ E.g. of Cymbopetalum mayanum (Annonaceae), Trophis racemosa (Moraceae), and Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba): Forster (2007).
4. ^ I.e. large among Saltator eggs (Echeverry-Galvis & Córdoba-Córdoba 2006).

References

• Echeverry-Galvis, María Ángela & Córdoba-Córdoba, Sergio (2006): Descripción del huevo del saltátor collarejo (Saltator cinctus) y comentarios preliminares sobre huevos del género Saltator. ["Description of the egg of the Masked Saltator (S. cinctus) and preliminary comments on the eggs of the genus Saltator"]. Boletín de la Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología 16(1): 76-84. [Spanish with English abstract] PDF fulltext
• Foster, Mercedes S. (2007): The potential of fruiting trees to enhance converted habitats for migrating birds in southern Mexico. Bird Conservation International 17(1): 45-61. doi:10.1017/S0959270906000554 PDF fulltext
• Hilty, Steven L. (2003): Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Stiles, F. Gary & Skutch, Alexander Frank (1989): A guide to the birds of Costa Rica. Comistock, Ithaca. ISBN 0-8014-9600-4