Bangsia melanochlamys
The Black-and-gold Tanager (*Bangsia melanochlamys*) is a strikingly beautiful and elusive passerine endemic to the Western Andes of Colombia. Measuring approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in length and weighing around 25-30 grams, this medium-sized tanager is instantly recognizable by its nearly entirely glossy black plumage, dramatically contrasted by a brilliant golden-yellow lower back, rump, and undertail coverts. A subtle golden patch can also be observed at the bend of its wing, complementi...
This tanager primarily inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane cloud forests, favoring the canopy and sub-canopy layers. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 900 to 2,200 meters (3,000-7,200 feet) above sea level.
Its diet primarily consists of arthropods, such as insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage, supplemented with a variety of small fruits and berries.
The Black-and-gold Tanager is a diurnal species, active throughout the day, though specific roosting habits remain largely unstudied. It is frequently observed participating in mixed-species foraging flocks, often accompanying other tanagers, euphonias, antbirds, and warblers, an important social...
The Black-and-gold Tanager is an obligate resident endemic to the Western Andes mountain range of Colombia. Its highly restricted and fragmented distribution extends from the northern parts of the department of Antioquia, south through Risaralda and Valle del Cauca, reaching into the extreme nort...
Vulnerable
- The Black-and-gold Tanager is entirely endemic to a very small and threatened region of the Western Andes of Colombia. - Its striking plumage, a sharp contrast of glossy black with brilliant golden-yellow, makes it one of the most visually distinctive members of the tanager family. - Despite it...