Blue-winged Mountain Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus Scientific name definitions

The Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager is a common, widespread tanager of lower Andean cloud forests. Large and brilliantly patterned in yellow, black, and blue, this species is conspicuous and unmistakable. It is almost always found in groups of 3 to 10 birds that move quickly through the forest, and it may be one of the "nuclear species" around which mixed-species feeding flocks form. Ranging from northern Venezuela south through northwestern Bolivia, this species shows a fair amount of geographic variation across its range. Among the more distinctive subspecies are the following: in eastern Colombia and northeastern Ecuador birds have green backs (subspecies baezae); in southwestern Colombia and western Ecuador, birds have blue edgings in the flight feathers (subspecies cyanoptera); and in populations in Bolivia and southeastern Peru, the rump is bright blue (subspecies flavinucha).

16–17 cm. Sexes similar. Distinctive strong-billed tanager with mostly blue wings and bold plumage pattern. Nominate race has forehead and side of head to well below eye black, fairly broad yellow stripe from center of crown to nape (stripe sometimes partly concealed); mantle and back deep black, rump dark brownish-olive becoming greener on upper tail coverts; tail blackish, at least several outer pairs of feathers edged bright blue; marginal coverts and lesser and median upper wing coverts shining cobalt-blue, greater coverts black; primary coverts black, flight feathers black, broadly edged bright turquoise-blue, tertials deep black; throat and entire underparts bright yellow except for black rear thigh, underwing-coverts bright yellow.

Differs from similar A. notabilis mainly in much darker, black mantle and back.

Juvenile (flavinucha) is much like adult, but duller yellow below, with yellow feathers of rear crown and nape mixed or tipped with black.

Iris

dark reddish-brown

Bill

upper mandible blackish, lower mandible bluish-grey with blackish tip and base

Tarsi and Toes

dark horn-gray

Prior to an evaluation of proper nomenclature (1 Sibley, C. G., and B. L. Monroe (1990). Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Close ), Anisognathus somptuosus was generally referred to as A. flavinuchus (or A. flavinucha) (2 Hellmayr, C. E. (1936). Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands in Field Museum of Natural History. Tersinidae-Thraupidae. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 13(9):i–v, 1–458. Close , 3 De Schauensee, R. (1970). A Guide to the Birds of South America. Narberth, PA: Livingston Press. Close , 4 Schulenberg, T.S. and Plenge, M.A. (1980). The type locality and taxonomy of Anisognathus flavinucha somptuosus. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 100: 147-149. Close , 5 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1989). The Birds of South America. Volume 1. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, USA. Close ). Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager was formerly placed in the genus Compsocoma (2 Hellmayr, C. E. (1936). Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands in Field Museum of Natural History. Tersinidae-Thraupidae. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 13(9):i–v, 1–458. Close , 6 Zimmer, J.T. (1944). Studies of Peruvian birds. No. 48. The genera Iridisornis, Delothraupis, Anisognathus, Buthraupis, Comopsocoma, Dubusia, and Thraupis. Amer. Mus. Novit. 1262: 1-21. Close , 7 Phelps, W. H., and W. H. Phelps Jr. (1950). Lista de las aves de Venezuela con su distributión. Part 2. Passeriformes. Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 12(75):1–427. Close ), but most recent classifications have followed Meyer de Schauensee (8 Meyer de Schauensee, R. (1966). The Species of Birds of South America and their Distribution. Livingston Publishing Company, Narbeth, Pennsylvania, USA. Close ) in merging Compsocoma with Anisognathus. Recent molecular studies (9 Burns, K. J. (1997). Molecular Phylogenetics of Tanagers and the Evolution of Sexual Dimorphism in Plumage. Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Close , 10 Burns, K. J. and R. A. Racicot. (2009) Molecular phylogenetics of a clade of lowland tanagers: implications for avian participation in the great American interchange. Auk 126: 635-648. Close , 11 Sedano, R. E., and K. J. Burns (2010). Are the Northern Andes a species pump for Neotropical birds? Phylogenetics and biogeography of a clade of Neotropical tanagers (Aves: Thraupini). Journal of Biogeography 37(2):325–343. Close ), however, have suggested that the taxonomic arrangement and generic limits of Anisognathus, as presently defined, may be in need of further revision. Although some recent authors have elevated flavinucha to species status (12 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204-205. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ), based on vocal and plumage differences (14 Bleiweiss, R. (2004). Ultraviolet plumage reflectance distinguishes sibling bird species. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101(47): 16561-16564. Close , 15 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus) and Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 405. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Close ), the traditional arrangement is retained here pending review of all races (16 Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close ).

Most races vary mainly in color and pattern of upperparts, while flavinucha also differs in having the black of forecrown extending to upper rear crown. Green-backed races virididorsalis, victorini, and baezae also have more greenish-blue vs powder-blue fringes to wings and tail, but latter character also shared by black-backed venezuelanus and somptuosus at northern and southern range extremities (17 Norgaard-Olesen, E. (1973). Tanagers. Volume 1. Skibby-Books, Skibby, Denmark. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 19 Isler, M. F., and P. R. Isler (1999). The Tanagers: Natural History, Distribution, and Identification. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close , 12 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204-205. Close ). The validity and consistency of vocal differences, and their alignment with observed plumage variation is in need of careful evaluation. Nine subspecies recognized.

Anisognathus somptuosus antioquiae

Distribution

N end of W Andes, both slopes of C Andes (in Antioquia) and E slope (in Tolima), in N Colombia (20 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ).

Identification

In northern Colombia, race antioquiae has the center of mantle and back tinged greenish, a green rump, and the wing and tail edged medium blue (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus victorini

Distribution

Andes of W Venezuela (S Táchira) and W slope of E Andes of Colombia (from Santander S to head of Magdalena Valley, in Huila) (7 Phelps, W. H., and W. H. Phelps Jr. (1950). Lista de las aves de Venezuela con su distributión. Part 2. Passeriformes. Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 12(75):1–427. Close , 21 Meyer de Schauensee, R., and W. H. Phelps (1978). A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 20 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 22 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Identification

Race victorini is slightly larger than most races, and and has plumage of the mantle to upper tail coverts moss-green (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus cyanopterus

Distribution

Andes of S Colombia (W slope of C range S from Quindío) and W Ecuador (S to Chimborazo and NE Azuay) (20 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 23 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close ).

Identification

The race cyanopterus " data-type="imglink">medialinkis much like nominate, but rump dark olive-green (not dark brownish-olive) and wing edgings darker cobalt-blue (not bright turquoise-blue) (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus baezae

Distribution

E slope of Andes in SW Colombia (Nariño) and Ecuador (S to Morona-Santiago) (20 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 23 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close ).

Identification

Race baezae " data-type="imglink">medialinkdiffers from nominate in having back and rump mixed black and olive (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus venezuelanus

Distribution

N Venezuela (coastal cordillera from Yaracuy E to Miranda) (7 Phelps, W. H., and W. H. Phelps Jr. (1950). Lista de las aves de Venezuela con su distributión. Part 2. Passeriformes. Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 12(75):1–427. Close , 22 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Identification

The northern race venezuelanus " data-type="imglink">medialinkdiffers from nominate in slightly smaller size, back sooty black (duller than nominate), and lower rump and upper tail coverts sooty black with yellowish-green tinge (2 Hellmayr, C. E. (1936). Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands in Field Museum of Natural History. Tersinidae-Thraupidae. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 13(9):i–v, 1–458. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus virididorsalis

Distribution

Aragua (Cerro Golfo Triste), in N Venezuela (7 Phelps, W. H., and W. H. Phelps Jr. (1950). Lista de las aves de Venezuela con su distributión. Part 2. Passeriformes. Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 12(75):1–427. Close , 22 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Identification

The Venezuelan endemic race virididorsalis differs in having back greenish-black, flight-feathers edged cobalt-blue like shoulder (not bright turquoise-blue), and tail feathers edged cobalt-blue (2 Hellmayr, C. E. (1936). Catalogue of birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands in Field Museum of Natural History. Tersinidae-Thraupidae. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 13(9):i–v, 1–458. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus alamoris

Systematic History

Race alamoris extremely similar to nominate and possibly better synonymized with it;

Distribution

S Ecuador (W slope in S Azuay, El Oro and W Loja) (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 24 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close ).

Identification

The western Ecuadorian race alamoris is very like nominate (with same turquoise-blue flight-feather edging), but perhaps slightly smaller and with upperparts slightly tinged green (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 23 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close , 13 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus somptuosus

Distribution

Eastern slope of the Andes from extreme southern Ecuador (Zamora-Chinchipe) southward to south-central Peru in the Urubamba Valley of Cuzco (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 24 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close , 25 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2007). Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Anisognathus somptuosus flavinucha

Systematic History

Hilty (12 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204-205. Close ) considered flavinucha to differ significantly in morphology from remaining races enough to warrant treatment as a full species. In particular, the extension of the black of forecrown of flavinucha as far as the upper rear crown, the shining powder-blue vs black or dark green rump, and the absence or reducion of blue on outer edges of secondaries and outer rectrices. The split was further justified with observed vocal differences (15 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus) and Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 405. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Close ).

Distribution

Eastern slope of the Andes in Peru, from eastern Cuzco southward to southern Bolivia (Chuquisaca) (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 25 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2007). Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Identification

Race flavinucha has the head, throat, mantle, and back deep black, with a prominent bright yellow median crown stripe on hindcrown and nape; lower back and rump bright cobalt-blue; lesser and median upper wing coverts purplish-blue, greater coverts black, primary coverts, flight-feathers and tail black, feathers sharply edged pale turquoise-blue, tertials mostly black; underparts bright golden yellow. Differs from very similar nominate somptuosus mainly in having more restricted yellow crown stripe, and cobalt-blue (not olive) rump (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 12 Hilty, S. L. (2011). Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). In Handbook of the birds of the World, Volume 16: Tanagers to New World blackbirds (del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott and D. A. Christie), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 204-205. Close ).

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EBIRD GROUP (POLYTYPIC)

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager (Blue-winged) Anisognathus somptuosus [somptuosus Group]

Available illustrations of subspecies in this group

• eBird map
• 330 photos
• 32 recordings

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus antioquiae Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N end of W Andes, both slopes of C Andes (in Antioquia) and E slope (in Tolima), in N Colombia.

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus victorini Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Andes of W Venezuela (S Táchira) and W slope of E Andes of Colombia (from Santander S to head of Magdalena Valley, in Huila).

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus cyanopterus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Andes of S Colombia (W slope of C range S from Quindío) and W Ecuador (S to Chimborazo and NE Azuay).

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus baezae Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E slope of Andes in SW Colombia (Nariño) and Ecuador (S to Morona-Santiago).

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus venezuelanus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

N Venezuela (coastal cordillera from Yaracuy E to Miranda).

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus virididorsalis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Aragua (Cerro Golfo Triste), in N Venezuela.

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus alamoris Scientific name definitions

Distribution

S Ecuador (W slope in S Azuay, El Oro and W Loja).

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SUBSPECIES

Anisognathus somptuosus somptuosus Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E slope of Andes in extreme S Ecuador (Zamora-Chinchipe) S to SC Peru (Urubamba Valley, Cuzco) (26 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2010). Birds of Peru. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

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EBIRD GROUP (MONOTYPIC)

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager (Bolivian) Anisognathus somptuosus flavinucha Scientific name definitions

• eBird map
• 43 photos
• 23 recordings

Distribution

E slope of Andes in Peru (from E Cuzco (26 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2010). Birds of Peru. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ) ) S to S Bolivia (Chuquisaca).

The Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager is distributed from the coastal cordillera of northern Venezuela, southward in the Andes from western Venezuela and northern Colombia to southern Bolivia (8 Meyer de Schauensee, R. (1966). The Species of Birds of South America and their Distribution. Livingston Publishing Company, Narbeth, Pennsylvania, USA. Close , 17 Norgaard-Olesen, E. (1973). Tanagers. Volume 1. Skibby-Books, Skibby, Denmark. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 1 Sibley, C. G., and B. L. Monroe (1990). Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Close , 19 Isler, M. F., and P. R. Isler (1999). The Tanagers: Natural History, Distribution, and Identification. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. Close , 27 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (2009). Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: The Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close ). For more detailed distributional data see the Distribution portions under each of the nine Subspecies sections.

Humid and wet forest, forest borders, and tall second-growth woodland (28 Schäfer, E., and W. H. Phelps (1954). Las Aves del Parque Nacional Henri Pittier (Rancho Grande) y sus Funciones Ecológicas. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 16(83). pp. 165. Close , 20 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 19 Isler, M. F., and P. R. Isler (1999). The Tanagers: Natural History, Distribution, and Identification. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. Close ). Mostly a mid- to high-elevation species, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager is found at 900–2100 m in Venezuela (22 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), mostly 1400–2600 m in Colombia (29 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ), 1200–2500 m in Ecuador (24 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close , 30 Freile, J., and R. Restall (2018). Birds of Ecuador. Bloomsbury, London, UK. Close ), and at c. 1500–2500 m at the southern extreme of its range (26 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker (2010). Birds of Peru. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Apparently resident.

Insects, and small fruits and berries. Conspicuous pairs or groups of 3–10 individuals forage alone or join mixed-species flocks typically containing other tanagers as well as New World warblers (Parulidae), but frequently strike out on their own in unpredictable or erratic little forays. Forages at various heights, from below eye level to (occasionally) high in canopy, and inside or at edge of forest; median foraging height in Valle (Colombia) was c. 12 m. Energetic, foraging actively in distinctive, stereotyped manner, nimbly run-hopping along slender, mostly bare branches, working out fairly quickly to terminal foliage clusters, where it pauses or hops deliberately and spends up to 30 seconds in peering around carefully, stretching up, leaning down, and occasionally pecking or lunging short distance for prey, sometimes sallying or hovering; then flies to another branch and repeats process. Also regularly checks hanging dead leaves for insects. Takes Miconia berries mostly without acrobatics (31 Miller, A. H. (1963) Seasonal activity and ecology of the avifauna of an American equatorial cloud forest. University of California Publications in Zoology 66:1–178. Close , 29 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 5 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1989). The Birds of South America. Volume 1. University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, USA. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close , 19 Isler, M. F., and P. R. Isler (1999). The Tanagers: Natural History, Distribution, and Identification. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA. Close , 22 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Generally rather quiet. Song a weak, rapid, very high-pitched, almost twittering “ti-ti-ti-ti ti’ti’ti’tí’tí’títi’ti’ti’ti’ti’ti’ti ti ti,” a little louder and faster in middle, in N & C Peru described as a high, weak wheedling “si-titi-si-titi tsu-ti-su-ti-tsu-ti-tsu-ti." When foraging, gives soft “tic” and “teep” notes , or short bursts of “tic” notes, sometimes extended into little trills. The song of flavinucha is dramatically different from other races and, in S Peru described as a rising series of wirey, quavering notes, “tchu-tchu-twéé-aww twéé-awéé wéé-wéé wéé-wéé.” Their song is frequently heard, at dawn and in morning hours, while perched or in flight display as bird climbs 30–45 m on shallowly beating wings, a series of musical whistles, soft but gradually increasing in volume and pitch, e.g. “too-too tyoo-towoo-towoo too-wít too-wít too-wít” (32 Álvarez-Rebolledo, M. and Córdoba-Córdoba, S. (2002). Guía Sonora de las Aves del Departamento de Caldas. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Villa de Leyeva, Colombia. In Spanish. Close , 33 Krabbe, N., and J. Nilsson (2003). Birds of Ecuador. DVD-ROM. Bird Songs International BV, Westernieland, The Netherlands. Close , 34 Mayer, S. (2000). Birds of Bolivia 2.0. Sounds and Photographs. CD-ROM. Bird Songs International B.V., Westernieland, The Netherlands. Close , 35 Moore, J.V., Coopmans, P., Ridgely, R.S. and Lysinger, M. (1999). The Birds of Northwestern Ecuador. CD 3. The upper foothills and subtropics. John V. Moore Nature Recordings, San José, California. Close , 15 Boesman, P. (2016). Notes on the vocalizations of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus somptuosus) and Bolivian Mountain-tanager (Anisognathus flavinucha). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 405. In: Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Close ).

Despite published evidence of breeding from across most of its range, the breeding of Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager is relatively poorly known. Nests are described for race cyanopterus and there is clear evidence of cooperative breeding in that subspecies (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close ). There are few or no data available for the remaining eight subspecies.

In Colombia, active nests in April–June in western Nariño (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close ), nestlings in June and fledglings in November in Valle del Cauca (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ), and juveniles in March and September–October in Cauca and eastern Nariño (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ). Also, three breeding-condition birds in March and 17 more in May–September in northern Colombia (31 Miller, A. H. (1963) Seasonal activity and ecology of the avifauna of an American equatorial cloud forest. University of California Publications in Zoology 66:1–178. Close , 29 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ). In Ecuador (alamoris), juveniles in January in Azuay (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ) and adult carrying nest material in early March in Loja (37 Best, B. J., C. T. Clarke, M. Checker, A. Broom, R. M. Thewlis, W. Duckworth, and A. McNab (1993). Distributional records, natural history notes, and conservation of some poorly-known birds from southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 113(4):234–255. Close ). In Peru, juveniles in March in Junín (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ). In Bolivia (flavinucha), breeding condition adults reported in August (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ), eggs in October in La Paz (Fjeldsa & Krabbe), and fledglings in April in Cochabamba (18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ).

One nest was placed 3.5 m up on horizontal limb of a Piper sp. sapling covered with tree-fern leaves and bamboo at a disturbed forest border, while another was 6.5 m up on horizontal branch of Clusia sp., and a third was 7.5 m above the ground (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close ).

In captivity, cup-nest of coarse grass and lined with finer grass. In western Nariño (Colombia), nest an open cup 12.4 cm in diameter and 8.6 cm high, made from soft plant material including rootlets, green moss, fern leaves, and fine vegetable fibers, lined with finer moss and dry bamboo leaves (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close ).

Co-operative breeding, with as many as four adult helpers, has been recorded in Colombia southwestern Colombia for race cyanopterus (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close ). Strewe (36 Strewe, R. (2001). First breeding records of Black-chinned Mountain-tanager Anisognathus notabilis and first nesting records in the wild of Blue-winged Mountain-tanager A. flavinucha with ecological notes. Cotinga 15: 38-42. Close , 38 Strewe, R. (2001). Notes on nests and breeding activity of fourteen bird species from southwestern Colombia. Ornitología Neotropical 12(3):265–269. Close ) provided the following details: at one nest one dominant individual (possibly female) and four adult helpers were present, helpers fed dominant bird, which in turn fed the two nestlings, as also did helpers, two fledglings subsequently seen with the five adults c. 50 m from nest tree and all seven remained together for c. 7 months or possibly more; at a second nest, one bird incubated and four helpers present; a third nest was attended by only two adults, which were seen to carry food to nest.

Not globally threatened (39 BirdLife International (2017). Anisognathus somptuosus (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103845565A119447519. . In pp. Available from https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103845565A119447519.en. Close , 40 BirdLife International (2017). Anisognathus flavinucha (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103845698A119446484. Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103845698A119446484.en. Close ). Uncommon to locally fairly common and widespread across most of its large Andean range (41 Stotz, D. F., J. W. Fitzpatrick, T. A. Parker III, and D. K. Moskovits (1996). Neotropical birds: Ecology and Conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. Close , 18 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ). Locally may occur at low densities. Occurs in many protected areas, and even unprotected areas within its range still include suitable habitat. Neverthelesss, Andean deforestation has resulted in at least local range contractions and fragmentations (39 BirdLife International (2017). Anisognathus somptuosus (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103845565A119447519. . In pp. Available from https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103845565A119447519.en. Close , 40 BirdLife International (2017). Anisognathus flavinucha (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T103845698A119446484. Available at https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103845698A119446484.en. Close ).