Sericossypha albocristata
The White-capped Tanager (*Sericossypha albocristata*) is a strikingly large and robust member of the tanager family (Thraupidae), measuring approximately 22-24 cm (8.7-9.4 in) in length and weighing between 80-104 g (2.8-3.7 oz). Its plumage is predominantly glossy black, contrasting sharply with a brilliant, silky white cap extending from the forehead to the crown, which serves as its most distinctive field mark. Males and females exhibit identical striking coloration, showcasing no sexual ...
Inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, forest borders, and adjacent secondary growth, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 3,000 meters.
Feeds primarily on a mix of fruits, berries, and insects, which it gleans from foliage and branches within the forest canopy.
White-capped Tanagers are highly social, diurnal birds, almost always observed in large, noisy flocks that can number from a dozen to over a hundred individuals. These gregarious flocks often move together through the canopy, frequently joining mixed-species foraging parties with other large tana...
The White-capped Tanager is endemic to the humid montane forests of the Andes, with a discontinuous distribution spanning several South American countries. Its range extends from the Andes of western Venezuela (Cordillera de Mérida) and Colombia, south through the mountains of Ecuador, and into n...
Least Concern
- The White-capped Tanager is the only species in its genus, *Sericossypha*, making it a unique, monotypic genus within the tanager family. - Despite its classification as a tanager, its robust size and highly social, often raucous flocking behavior can give it a resemblance to certain corvid spe...