- Tangara rufigenis
Identification
13 cm. A small bluish-green tanager with a small rufous mask.
- Rufous lores and chin back to rear ear-coverts
- Smoky bluish-green rest of head, nape, mantle and back
- Pale-blue rump and uppertail-coverts
- Blackish tail, feathers with dull blue-green edges
- Dusky upperwing, pale blue edged lesser coverts, pale greenish-blue edged greater coverts, cinnamon-brown edged flight-feathers
- Shining bluish-green underparts, paler on throat, cinnamon-rufous to pale rufous centre of belly and undertail-coverts
Sexes similar. Immatures are much duller.
Distribution
Endemic to northern Venezuela (south Lara, mountains of Yaracuy, coastal cordillera from Carabobo east to Miranda, and interior cordillera in south Aragua).
An uncommon restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Wet and humid forest, second growth. Also landslides on steep slopes, especially around Miconia trees and other melastomes.
Occurs at 900 to 2050m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on fruits. Takes also arthropods.
Forages energetic and fast-moving in pairs or small groups, sometimes alone.
Breeding
No information.
Movements
Some altitudinal movements recorded during rainier months.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2011. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 16: Tanagers to New World Blackbirds. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553781
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rufous-cheeked Tanager. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rufous-cheeked_Tanager
