Black-faced Tanager (Schistochlamys melanopis)

Order: Passeriformes  | Family: Thraupidae  | IUCN Status: Least Concern

black-faced_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Amazonas, Peru

black-faced_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Male | Loc. Southern Brazil

black-faced_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Female | Loc. Southern Brazil

black-faced_tanager
Age: Adult | Sex: Males and Female | Loc. Southern Brazil


Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Black-faced Tanager is all gray with a black mask that extends to the upper breast. Both sexes are similar. The juvenile is olive yellow above and yellow-olive below. It is superficially similar to a Grayish Saltator but is distinguished by having a solid black mask and breast. It favors semi-open habitats, forest edges, and second growth.

Status: The Black-faced Tanager is uncommon and widespread, but rather local on the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 900-1800 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara de Cara Negra.

Sub-species: Black-faced Tanager (Schistochlamys melanopis grisea), Cory, 1916.  Extreme S Ecuador, and E Peru on E slope of Andes (very locally from Moyobamba and Huarandosa S to Marcapata).
(S. m. olivina), (P. L. Sclater), 1865.  Extreme SE Peru (Pampas del Heath) and adjacent N Bolivia E to SC Brazil (Mato Grosso).

Meaning of Name: Schistochlamys: L. schistus= slate and khlamus, khlamudos= mantle, cloak.
melanopis: Gr. melas, melanos= black and opos= face, opis= faced, melanopis= black-looking.

See more of the Family Thraupidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
black-faced_tanagerVoice


References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 03/01/2016.