- Anisognathus lacrymosus
Identification
18cm. (7in.) A typical bright, showy Mountain-tanager. Most easily identified by yellow spots below the eyes and behind the ears. Bright mustard-yellow below, slate blue above, with fine blue edges on wing and tail.
Similar Species
Similar to Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, but the latter is a brighter lemon yellow below, and lacks the head spots. Also similar to Black-cheeked Mountain-Tanager which has different color blue on the crown and lacks the yellow spots behind the ears.
Distribution
Eastern slope of Andes between 2300 and 3200m elevation.
Taxonomy
Eight subspecies are recognized (with one additional subspecies recently described):
- A.l. pallididorsalis
- A.l. melanops
- A.l. tamae
- A.l. intensus
- A.l. olivaceiceps
- A.l. palpebrosus
- A.l. caerulescens
- A.l. lacrymosus
Habitat
Temperate forest, borders, and woodlands.
Behaviour
Common and conspicuous; often forages in small flocks with other tanagers and mixed species low in the foliage where easily seen.
References
- Thread in Birdforum Taxonomy forum discussing this species
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
