Black-capped tanager female by David Whited

Black-capped tanager female

David Whited

Black-capped tanager female

Digital photography

Inv: PH-1558

The Black-capped Tanager (*Stilpnia heinei*) is a strikingly beautiful small bird native to the Andean slopes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, typically found in humid montane forests and forest edges at elevations between 1,000 and 2,200 meters. The male is particularly eye-catching, displaying a glossy black cap contrasting with vibrant turquoise-green plumage on the back and underparts, along with silvery-blue highlights that shimmer in the light. The female is more subdued, showing greenish tones with streaked underparts. Like other tanagers in the family Thraupidae, it has a relatively short, stout bill suited for consuming a varied diet of fruits, berries, and small invertebrates. It is often observed in pairs or small mixed-species flocks moving through the canopy, and while not currently considered threatened, it depends on the integrity of Andean forest habitats that face ongoing pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion.

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Additional Details

Additional Artworks

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