Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris)

Identification & Behavior: ~18 cm (7 in). The Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager is mostly black with a bright scarlet belly. It has a bright scarlet ear patch and a blue patch on the shoulders. It forages in pairs in the mid and upper canopy of humid montane forests. The Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager is unmistakable but see the Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager.

Status: The Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager is common in humid montane forests of the east and west (Piura and Cajamarca) slopes of the Andes at elevations ranging between 2400-3500 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tangara-de-Montaña de Vientre Escarlata.

Sub-species: Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris erythrotus), (Jardine and Selby), 1840.  C Andes of Colombia (Caldas, Cauca, Huila, and both slopes in Nariño) S through Ecuador to N Peru (N of R Marañón, S to R Chamaya).
(Anisognathus igniventris ignicrissa), (Cabanis), 1873.  E slope of Andes of Peru S of R Marañón (C Cajamarca S of R Chamaya, and from Amazonas S to Junín).
(Anisognathus igniventris igniventris) (d”Orbigny and Lafresnaye) 1837.  E slope of Peru (from Junín) S to Bolivia (Santa Cruz).

Meaning of Name: Anisognathus: Gr. Anisos= unequal and gnathos= lower jaw, alluding to the stubby, almost bullfinch-like bills of these mountain tanagers. igniventris: L. ignis= fire and venter, ventris= belly.

See more of the Family Thraupidae