Black-cheeked Mountain Tanager
Anisognathus melanogenys
Large, colorful tanager found only in the Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia. Note the black mask, yellow dot behind eye, and azure crown; plumage is otherwise blue and yellow. Usually seen in the canopy of cloud forest, often in pairs, and regularly joins mixed species flocks. It is rather quiet for a mountain-tanager, and typically just gives soft chip notes. Quite common in the upper parts of El Dorado Nature Reserve.
Identification
Large, colorful tanager found only in the Santa Marta Mountains of Colombia. Note the black mask, yellow dot behind eye, and azure crown; plumage is otherwise blue and yellow. Usually seen in the canopy of cloud forest, often in pairs, and regularly joins mixed species flocks. It is rather quiet for a mountain-tanager, and typically just gives soft chip notes. Quite common in the upper parts of El Dorado Nature Reserve.
Taxonomy
Genus: Anisognathus; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Anisognathus melanogenys
- Authority
- (Salvin & Godman, 1880)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thraupidae
- Genus
- Anisognathus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnia malabarica
Pale-headed starling with dark-tipped wings and an orangish belly and rump. Bill is distinctively colorful: blue with a yellow tip. Inhabits open forests and forest edge, as well as agricultural areas and village outskirts. Like other starlings, social and raucous, often flocking together while noisily churring and whistling. Frequently perches up on exposed perches such as snags and utility lines, but also forages extensively on the ground. Native to southern Asia; introduced to Taiwan.

Western Spindalis
Spindalis zena
Uncommon in thickets, forest edge, and gardens, where found mainly at fruiting trees and bushes. Usually in pairs or small flocks, and often quite inconspicuous. Handsome male is unmistakable, with bold head pattern, golden-yellow and dark reddish body plumage, and bold white wing pattern. Female is notably drab, grayish olive overall with a small white mark on the wing, and a ghosting of the male wing pattern.

White-throated Piping-Guan
Pipile grayi
Large forest guan found in far southeastern Peru, Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, and northern Paraguay, often along rivers. Plumage is mostly black with a white face, crown, nape, and wing patch. It has a bare patch of skin on the throat that may be light blue or white. On older birds this skin patch ends in a wormlike wattle that dangles below the neck. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Blue-throated Piping-Guan; it can be distinguished by the pure white (not buff-streaked) crown and nape, paler blue or white throat patch, and the wormlike wattle (on adults). In some areas, including the Pantanal, individuals with blue and red throat patches can be found; these are likely hybrids with Red-throated Piping-Guan. Mostly arboreal, but sometimes descends to the ground to feed or drink. Song, often given at dawn or dusk, is a rising series of clear whistles. Occasionally rattles its wings loudly in flight.
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