Chlorochrysa nitidissima
The Multicolored Tanager, *Chlorochrysa nitidissima*, is a breathtakingly vibrant songbird, often considered one of the most stunning members of the Thraupidae family. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing around 16-18 grams (0.56-0.63 ounces), its plumage is a dazzling mosaic of iridescent hues. Males boast an emerald-green head, a golden-yellow mantle, a distinct black facial mask and throat, a fiery orange-red rump, and a brilliant sky-blue belly and vent...
This species primarily inhabits humid subtropical and temperate cloud forests, favoring forest edges, secondary growth, and areas near ravines. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 900 to 2200 meters (2,950-7,200 feet) above sea level, occasionally up to 2500 meters.
The Multicolored Tanager primarily feeds on insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and ants, which it gleans from foliage and bark. It also supplements its diet with small fruits, demonstrating an omnivorous foraging strategy.
Multicolored Tanagers are diurnal birds, actively foraging from dawn until dusk, often in the mid to upper canopy of the forest. They employ a 'gleaning' foraging strategy, meticulously picking insects and small fruits from leaves, twigs, and bark, sometimes performing short sallies to snatch air...
The Multicolored Tanager is endemic to the humid montane forests of the Colombian Andes, with its primary distribution encompassing the Western and Central Cordilleras. Its range extends from Risaralda and Chocó departments south through Valle del Cauca to Cauca department in the Western Cordille...
Near Threatened
- The Multicolored Tanager is often cited as one of the most beautiful birds in the world due to its spectacular iridescent plumage. - Despite its vivid colors, it can be surprisingly difficult to spot in the dense, dappled light of its cloud forest habitat. - It frequently joins mixed-species fo...