Black-chested Mountain-Tanager (Cnemothraupis eximia)

Identification & Behavior: ~23.5 cm (9.2 in). The Black-chested Mountain-Tanager is greenish above and yellow below. It has a distinctive black throat and chest with a dark iris. The crown and nape are blue. It forages in elfin forests and humid montane scrub where it generally remains inconspicuous. It is similar to the Hooded Mountain-Tanager but is distinguished by a green back, blue head and nape, and by ranging at higher elevations. Also, see Masked Mountain-Tanager.

Status: The Black-chested Mountain-Tanager is uncommon in extreme northeast Peru in Cajamarca, on the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2800-3400 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Tangara-de-Montaña de Pecho Negro.

Sub-species: Black-chested Mountain-Tanager (Cnemothraupis eximia cyanocalyptra), (R. T. Moore), 1934.

Meaning of Name: Cnemathraupis: Gr. Knemos= ridge, shoulder and thraupis= unknown small bird, perhaps some sort of finch. In ornithology thraupis signifies tanager. eximia: L. eximius= select, distinguished..

See more of the Family Thraupidae