Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (7 in). The Blue-Gray Tanager is mostly blue and bluish gray (quesita) or bluish gray with a large white wing shoulder patch (all other sub-species). The juvenile in all forms is bluish gray without the white wing patches. It is similar to the Palm Tanager but is distinguished by having a lighter overall coloration and white shoulder patch. Also, see the Sayaca Tanager, which is rare in Southeast Peru, but very similar to a juvenile Blue-Gray Tanager.

Status: The Blue-Gray Tanager is common and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 2000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It is also common in open habitats and edges of semi-humid forests in northwest Peru. The Blue-Gray Tanager also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara Azuleja.

Sub-species: Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus quaesita), Bangs and Noble, 1918.  SW Colombia (W Nariño) S on Pacific slope to NW Peru.
(Thraupis episcopus caerulea), J. T. Zimmer, 1929.  SE Ecuador and N Peru (S to Huánuco).
(Thraupis episcopus major), (Berlepsch and Stolzmann), 1896.  Chanchamayo Valley, in C Peru.
(Thraupis episcopus urubambae), J. T. Zimmer, 1944.  Urubamba Valley and Amazonian drainage, in SE Peru.
(Thraupis episcopus coelestis), (Spix), 1825.  SE Colombia, W Brazil (E to R Negro and R Madeira) and NE Ecuador S to C Peru.

Meaning of Name: Thraupis: Gr. Thraupis= unknown small bird, perhaps some sort of finch. episcopus: Gr. Episkopos= guardian, teacher, overseer.

See more of the Family Thraupidae