Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager is blue above and orange-yellow below. It has a blue patch on the shoulder. It also has a distinctive yellow area below the eye. The sub-species coerulescens has an additional yellow patch behind the ear. It forages in the canopy of humid montane forest and second growth, often in the company of mixed species flocks. It is superficially similar to the Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager and Hooded Mountain-Tanager.

Status: The Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager is uncommon in montane forests of the east and west (Piura and Cajamarca) slopes of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1800-3500 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Tangara-de-Montaña Lacrimosa.

Sub-species: Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus caerulescens),  (Taczanowski and Berlepsch) 1885.  E slope of Andes in Ecuador (from Loja, or possibly farther N) and N Peru (S to Cajamarca and N Amazonas).
(Anisognathus lacrymosus lacrymosus), (Du Bus de Gisignies), 1846.  E slope in Peru from Amazonas (S of R Marañón) S to Junín, Ayacucho and N Cuzco).

Meaning of Name: Anisognathus: Gr. Anisos= unequal and gnathos= lower jaw; alluding to the stubby, almost bullfinch-like bills of these mountain tanagers. lacrymosus: L. lacrima= tear, lacrimosus= tearful, weeping, mournful, piteous.

See more of the Family Thraupidae