Dubusia taeniata
The Buff-banded Mountain Tanager, *Dubusia taeniata*, is a striking high-altitude passerine belonging to the diverse Thraupidae family. Averaging 19-20 cm (7.5-7.9 in) in length and weighing 43-51 grams, its elegant plumage features a predominantly slate-gray to bluish-gray body. The species is instantly recognizable by a distinctive buffy-orange band that sweeps across its nape and sides of the neck, sharply contrasted below by a black border. Its face and throat are intensely black, creatin...
Found in humid montane cloud forests, elfin forest, forest borders, and secondary growth, often near bamboo thickets, typically at elevations between 2,000 and 3,300 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a variety of insects and spiders, supplemented significantly by small fruits and berries, often gleaned from mossy branches and foliage.
Buff-banded Mountain Tanagers are diurnal and spend their days actively foraging, often participating in mixed-species flocks, particularly with other tanagers and furnariids, moving methodically through the canopy and subcanopy. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects and spi...
The Buff-banded Mountain Tanager is endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America, with a disjunct distribution across several countries. In the northern Andes, it occurs in the Venezuelan Andes (specifically the Mérida and Táchira states) and the three cordilleras of Colombia. Further south, i...
Least Concern
- The Buff-banded Mountain Tanager is one of only three species in its genus, *Dubusia*, all restricted to the Andean mountain ranges. - Its striking buffy-orange nape band is a key identifier and provides its common name, making it stand out among other tanagers. - These tanagers are high-altitu...