Alternative names: Slaty-backed Tanager
- Poospiza goeringi
Hemispingus goeringi
Identification
14cm. Has rather long and heavy legs and a small slender bill.
- Deep black crown, nape and side of head
- Long broad white supercilium
- Slaty upperparts
- Rich tawny-rufous underparts
- Tinged olive-brown flanks
Sexes similar. Juveniles undescribed.
Similar species
Differs from similar Piura Hemispingus by richer and brighter colours. Also much heavier legs.
Distribution
Found in the Andes of Merida and northern Tachira in western Venezuela.
An uncommon and easily overlooked restricted-range species.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
This species has in the past been placed in genus Hemispingus.
Habitat
Moist montane areas, especially in dense shrubbery borders and stunted elfin forest. Often in or near bamboo.
Occurs at 2360 to 3200m.
Behaviour
Feeds on insects, takes possibly also some vegetable items.
Usually seen in pairs or singly. Forages alone or in mixed-species flocks. Forages on or near the ground ,usually under dense cover. Difficult to see.
No information on breeding.
Apparently a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. 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. (2025) Slaty-backed Hemispingus. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Slaty-backed_Hemispingus
