Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus)

Identification & Behavior: ~14 cm (5.5 in). The Golden Tanager has a blackish back with golden streaks. The rest of the body is golden. It has a large black ear patch and chestnut on the throat and upper breast. It forages in the forest canopy in family groups often in the company of mixed species flocks. The Golden Tanager’s plumage is unmistakable but, see Flame-faced Tanager.

Status: The Golden Tanager is common in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 600-2000 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara Dorada.

Sub-species: Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus aequatorialis), (Taczanowski and Berlepsch), 1885.  E slope of Andes in Ecuador and adjacent N Peru (Chaupe).
(Tangara arthus pulchra), (Tschudi), 1844.   E slope of Andes in Peru (from Chachapoyas S to Chanchamayo).
(Tangara arthus sophiae), (Berlepsch), 1901.  E slope of Andes in SE Peru (S from Cuzco and Puno) S to Bolivia (La Paz and W Cochabamba).

Meaning of Name: Tangara: Tupí name, Tangara= dancer, one who turns and skips, originally used for the manakins, but subsequently (Marcgrave 1648) transferred to other bright finch-like birds.
arthus: In honor of Claude Arthus-Bertrand (1770-1834) French book-seller, publisher.

See more of the Family Thraupidae