Trichothraupis melanops
The Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops) is a distinctive passerine bird belonging to the family Thraupidae, renowned for its striking facial markings. Males are easily identified by a prominent black mask, often likened to 'goggles,' extending from the bill through the eye to the ear coverts, brilliantly contrasted by a bright yellow-orange supercilium. Their upperparts are an olive-brown, while the underparts transition from dull yellow on the throat and breast to a paler, almost...
Found primarily in the understory of humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, and mature secondary growth. It prefers foothills and lower montane regions, typically up to 1,800 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, gleaning caterpillars, beetles, and ants from foliage. Supplements its diet with small fruits and berries.
The Black-goggled Tanager is a diurnal bird, generally observed singly or in pairs, though it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly outside the breeding season. It employs an active gleaning foraging strategy, methodically searching for insects and small fruits on the under...
The Black-goggled Tanager is a resident species endemic to southeastern South America, with its distribution centered within the Atlantic Forest biome and associated interior forests. Its primary breeding and year-round range extends across southeastern Brazil, from the states of Espírito Santo a...
Least Concern
- The genus name 'Trichothraupis' translates to 'hairy tanager,' though the reason for this specific descriptor is not immediately obvious from its plumage. - Its common name 'Black-goggled' perfectly captures the male's distinct black facial mask, making it one of the most aptly named tanagers. ...