Chlorornis riefferii
A vibrant and striking tanager, the Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii) lives up to its name with a plumage dominated by iridescent grass-green, contrasting sharply with a prominent black facial mask, warm chestnut underparts, and a bright red, cone-shaped bill. Measuring approximately 20-22 cm (8-8.7 inches) in length and weighing 50-60 grams (1.8-2.1 ounces), its size and color combination make it relatively easy to identify in its dense montane habitat. This monotypic genus, *Chloro...
This species exclusively inhabits humid, moss-laden montane cloud forests and humid evergreen forests, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to over 3,000 meters.
The diet of the Grass-green Tanager consists predominantly of small fruits and a variety of arthropods, including insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage and branches.
The Grass-green Tanager is a diurnal bird, generally observed actively foraging in the mid-story and subcanopy of its dense forest habitat, either alone, in pairs, or frequently as a prominent member of mixed-species flocks. Its foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning arthropods from foliag...
The Grass-green Tanager is a resident species found exclusively in the high-elevation Andean mountain ranges of South America, spanning from western Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and into central Bolivia. There are no significant migratory movements, with populations remaining ...
Least Concern
- The Grass-green Tanager is the sole member of its genus, *Chlorornis*, highlighting its distinct evolutionary lineage among tanagers. - Its striking grass-green plumage provides surprisingly effective camouflage amidst the mosses and epiphytes of its cloud forest habitat. - This species is freq...