Schistochlamys melanopis
The Black-faced Tanager (Schistochlamys melanopis) is a distinctive medium-sized passerine, measuring approximately 18-20 cm (7.1-7.9 in) in length and weighing 30-45 grams. Its most prominent field mark is a bold, sooty-black face mask and throat, which sharply contrasts with its pale, often white or grayish-white, belly and underparts. The upperparts, including the crown, nape, back, and wings, are a uniform slate-gray to olive-gray, occasionally exhibiting a subtle greenish wash. Belonging...
This species inhabits open, semi-arid, and humid woodlands, savannas, shrublands, cerrado, caatinga, and forest edges, often near water bodies. It can be found from sea level up to approximately 2000 meters in elevation.
Its diet consists primarily of insects and other arthropods, which it gleans from foliage and branches. It also consumes a significant amount of small fruits, berries, and occasionally seeds.
The Black-faced Tanager is a diurnal bird, typically observed singly, in pairs, or in small family groups. It forages actively in the canopy and mid-story, but frequently descends to lower vegetation or even the ground to search for food. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects an...
The Black-faced Tanager boasts an extensive, year-round resident range across northern and central South America. Its distribution stretches from eastern Colombia, Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago, eastward through the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana). From there, it spreads south thro...
Least Concern
- The Black-faced Tanager is unique among its family for its relatively subdued, largely gray and black plumage, a stark contrast to the often vibrant colors of many other tanager species. - Despite its preference for open habitats, it is often found near water sources, indicating a potential rel...