Blue-whiskered Tanager Tangara johannae Scientific name definitions

Currently listed as Near Threatened due to the ongoing deforestation which threatens so much of the remaining Chocó forest of western Colombia and northwest Ecuador, the Blue-whiskered Tanager is generally scarce through much of its range, although it remains locally fairly common in some parts of southernmost Colombia. Principally green-bodied, the malar is turquoise-colored and set-off by a black surround and throat patch, whilst the rump is rich golden-yellow. The Blue-whiskered Tanager is generally restricted to elevations below 1000 m, and usually travels with mixed-species flocks including other Tangara tanagers. Most aspects of the species’ behavior remain poorly known, and the nest has been found just once.

13 cm. Small tanager with green body, black face and throat, and conspicuous blue malar. Has face , including lores, area around eye, side of head and throat black, surrounded anteriorly by variable narrow turquoise border; prominent large turquoise malar patch separating black of face from black of throat; rest of plumage mainly bright apple-green with golden tinge, forecrown sometimes faintly flecked with black, mantle and back streaked black, rump plain bright yellow, longer upper­tail-coverts dusky, edged and tipped green; tail black, feathers edged turquoise broadly at base and more narrowly near tip; upperwing-coverts black, narrowly edged turquoise-blue, a few innermost greater coverts often somewhat edged green; flight-feathers black, outer ones prominently edged blue, inner ones and tertials edged green; base of black throat with narrow edge of blue (usually concealed); breast and lower underparts mainly bright apple-green, centre of belly and undertail-coverts greyish to buff; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark horn-grey. Sexes similar, female often slightly duller than male. Juvenile is very dull and largely without distinctive pattern or bright colour; immature similar to adult, but duller.

Fruits , some arthropods. Occurs in pairs or in family groups of 3–4 individuals, and a regular member of mixed-species flocks. Forages mainly at middle levels or higher in forest, occasionally lower along forest borders. Visits variety of small to large fruiting trees and shrubs for fruit. Forages for insects by moving in little spurts along relatively slender mossy or bare limbs, then pausing briefly and leaning head downwards to inspect first one side (or underside) of a branch and then the other; distinctive “stereotyped” movements resemble those of many congeners.

Call or contact note during foraging a shrill buzzy “tzzeee”, similar to that of T. arthus. No song has yet been described.