Golden-collared Tanager (Iridosornis jelskii)

Identification & Behavior: ~16 cm (6.5 in). The Golden-collared Tanager has a black mask bordered by gold-yellow giving the impression of a golden collar. The upperparts are blue. The breast is grayish-blue and grades to rusty toward the rest of the underparts. It forages in pairs and family groups in thick foliage near the understory on humid montane scrub, and forest edges. It is similar to the Yellow-scarfed Tanager but is distinguished by having rusty underparts and different head pattern.

Status: The Golden-collared Tanager is uncommon in humid montane forests and scrub on the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2900-3700 m. It also occurs in Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara de Collar Dorado.

Sub-species: Golden-collared Tanager (Iridosornis jelskii jelskii), (Cabanis), 1873.  E slope of Peruvian Andes from E La Libertad and San Martín S to Junín.
(Iridosornis jelskii bolivianus) Berlepsch, 1912.  E slope of Andes from S Peru (Cuzco) S to Bolivia (La Paz).

Meaning of Name: Iridosornis: Gr. iris, iridos= rainbow and ornis, ornithos= bird.
jelskii: In honor of Konstanty Roman Jelski (1838-1896) Polish zoologist, explorer, Curator of Lima Mus. 1874-1878.

See more of the Family Thraupidae