Tangara velia
The Opal-rumped Tanager (Tangara velia) is a dazzling, medium-sized Neotropical passerine, immediately recognizable by the iridescent, pale blue to whitish rump patch that glows like an opal, especially in flight or display. This striking feature contrasts sharply with its overall dark blue to purplish-black plumage, complemented by a chestnut belly, dark blue wings with bright blue shoulder patches, and a black face. Averaging around 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length and weighing 17-23 gra...
Found primarily in humid lowland and submontane evergreen forests, including terra firme and várzea forests. It typically inhabits the canopy and forest edges, ranging from sea level up to approximately 1000-1400 meters (3,300-4,600 feet) in elevation.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a wide variety of small fruits and berries; insects and other arthropods are also regularly gleaned from foliage, particularly during the breeding season.
Opal-rumped Tanagers are active, diurnal birds, frequently observed foraging in the canopy and sub-canopy layers. They often join mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through the foliage in search of food. Foraging strategies involve gleaning insects from leaves and branches, as well as ...
The Opal-rumped Tanager is broadly distributed across the northern and western Amazon Basin, extending into the Guianas. Its range encompasses southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and much of the Amazonian regions of Brazil. Isolated populations are found in eas...
Least Concern
- The 'opal' in its name refers to the stunning iridescent pale blue to whitish rump patch, which can appear to change color with light, much like the gemstone. - Despite its vivid colors, the Opal-rumped Tanager can be surprisingly inconspicuous high in the forest canopy, often identified by its...