Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii)

Identification & Behavior: ~20 cm (7.8 in). The Grass-Green Tanager has an unmistakable emerald green plumage with a rusty mask and rusty vent area. The bill, iris, and legs are brick-red. It forages in the canopy of humid montane forest often in the company of mixed species flocks. The Orange-eared Tanager ranges at lower elevations.

Status: The Grass Green Tanager is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2000-3500 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara Verde Esmeralda.

Sub-species: Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii riefferii), (Boissonneau), 1840.  Andes of Colombia, Ecuador and extreme northern Peru, north of the Marañón River.
(Chlorornis riefferii dilutus), J. T. Zimmer, 1947.  Andes of N Peru S of Chachapoyas.
(Chlorornis riefferii elegans) (Tschudi), 1844.  Andes of C Peru (Junín).
(Chlorornis riefferii celatus), J. T. Zimmer, 1947.  Andes of S Peru below Limbani.

Meaning of Name: Chlorornis: Gr. Khloros= green and ornis, ornithos= bird.
riefferii: In honor of Gabriel Rieffer French explorer, collector in tropical America.

See more of the Family Thraupidae