Stilpnia vitriolina
The Scrub Tanager, *Stilpnia vitriolina*, is a strikingly plumaged songbird endemic to the Pacific slopes of Colombia and Ecuador. Males are instantly recognizable by their glossy black head, throat, and upper back, dramatically offset by a brilliant fiery orange to chestnut crown and nape. A shimmering silvery-blue to greenish-blue rump and lower back provide another key field mark, contrasting with pale greyish-white underparts. These agile birds typically measure around 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 i...
The Scrub Tanager inhabits open to semi-open country, preferring dry scrub, forest edges, secondary growth, clearings, and agricultural areas like coffee plantations, typically found from sea level up to 2000-2800 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of small insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and ants, which they glean from leaves and twigs, supplemented by a significant amount of small fruits and berries.
Scrub Tanagers are diurnal and active foragers, spending their days gleaning insects and small fruits from foliage and branches within their preferred scrubby habitats. They are often observed in pairs or small family groups, sometimes associating with mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly ...
The Scrub Tanager is endemic to the humid Pacific slopes of western Colombia and western Ecuador, primarily within the Chocó biogeographic region. Its distribution spans from the Cauca and Magdalena valleys of Colombia south through western Ecuador, typically sticking to the lower and mid-elevati...
Least Concern
- The Scrub Tanager was formerly placed in the large genus *Tangara* before being reclassified into *Stilpnia*, reflecting a deeper understanding of tanager phylogeny. - Despite its brilliant coloration, its preferred habitat of dense scrub and thorny bushes can make it surprisingly challenging t...