Tangara johannae
The Blue-whiskered Tanager (*Tangara johannae*) is a stunningly vibrant passerine bird, a true jewel of the tropical rainforests. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing around 18-20 grams, this small tanager is predominantly an iridescent emerald green. Its most distinctive feature, and the source of its common name, is the brilliant, electric blue malar stripe, or 'whiskers,' contrasting sharply with a black mask that extends from the lores through the eye. ...
The Blue-whiskered Tanager primarily inhabits humid evergreen forests, including forest edges and clearings with scattered trees, typically found in lowlands and foothills up to 1200-1500 meters (4000-5000 feet) in elevation.
The diet of the Blue-whiskered Tanager consists mainly of arthropods, such as insects and spiders, supplemented by small, soft fruits and berries. It primarily forages by gleaning prey from foliage and branches, and occasionally by sallying to catch flying insects.
This diurnal species is an active forager, spending much of its time in the canopy and subcanopy layers of the forest. It employs a combination of gleaning, picking insects from leaves and branches, and occasionally hawking them in mid-air. A common behavior is its participation in mixed-species ...
The Blue-whiskered Tanager is a resident species, primarily restricted to the Chocó biogeographic region of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. In Colombia, its range extends along the Pacific slope of the Western Andes, occurring in departments such as Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca, and N...
Least Concern
- The Blue-whiskered Tanager was first described by German ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub, who named it 'johannae' after his wife, Johanna. - Its vivid blue malar stripe is a truly distinctive field mark, virtually unparalleled among other tanager species, making it instantly recognizable. - Despi...