Conothraupis speculigera
The Black-and-white Tanager (Conothraupis speculigera) is a striking passerine from the family Thraupidae, characterized by strong sexual dimorphism. Males are entirely glossy black with a distinctive, prominent white speculum (wing patch) on their primaries, providing a stark monochromatic contrast; they measure approximately 14.5 cm in length. Females, in contrast, are cryptically colored, exhibiting an olive-brown plumage above and a paler, yellowish-olive underside, often with a much redu...
Found in arid and semi-arid deciduous or mixed forests, scrub, and woodland edges, often near rivers. Typically inhabits elevations between 200m and 1800m, but sometimes higher or lower depending on the season and region.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects and other invertebrates. Diet is supplemented with small fruits and berries, especially during the non-breeding season, gleaned from vegetation.
This diurnal species is generally observed singly or in pairs, though it frequently joins mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season, particularly with other tanagers. Foraging occurs primarily in the lower to middle strata of vegetation, where it actively gleans insects and other invertebr...
The Black-and-white Tanager exhibits a distinct migratory pattern within South America. Its breeding range is concentrated in the inter-Andean valleys and foothills of southeastern Ecuador (primarily Loja, Zamora-Chinchipe) and northern Peru (including Cajamarca, Amazonas, San MartÃn, La Libertad...
Least Concern
- The male's striking black and white plumage, especially the white wing patch (speculum), is unusual in the typically colorful tanager family. - Despite its common name, the 'speculum' is a term more frequently used to describe a similarly colored patch on the wings of ducks. - Females are so di...