Black-chinned mountain tanager

The black-chinned mountain tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

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Distribution

Region

Northern Andes

Typical Environment

Occurs on humid montane slopes of Colombia and Ecuador, chiefly in epiphyte-rich cloud forests. It favors forest edges, clearings with fruiting trees, and mature secondary growth. The species is most active in the mid- to upper canopy but descends to forest borders and along roadsides where fruit is abundant. It tolerates some habitat disturbance but depends on extensive tracts of moist montane forest.

Altitude Range

1200–2800 m

Climate Zone

Highland

Characteristics

Size18–20 cm

Wing Span25–30 cm

Male Weight0.045 kg

Female Weight0.042 kg

Life Expectancy7 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

This bright mountain tanager is a regular member of mixed-species flocks that roam Andean cloud-forest canopies. Its diagnostic black chin sets it apart from the similar Blue-winged Mountain Tanager. It often tracks fruiting trees and may shift elevation locally with seasonal food availability.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

social and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically forages in pairs or small groups and frequently joins mixed-species canopy flocks. Likely monogamous, building a cup-shaped nest concealed in shrubs or trees. Territoriality is moderate, with tolerance of conspecifics at rich fruit sources.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations are a series of clear, thin whistles interspersed with sharp chips. The song is simple and melodic, delivered from mid-canopy perches, while contact calls are high-pitched and carry well through dense foliage.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Black-chinned sparrow

The black-chinned sparrow is a small bird in the genus Spizella, in the New World sparrow family Passerellidae. It is found in the southwestern United States and throughout much of Mexico north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec; most populations in the US migrate south after breeding while those in Mexico are resident. It is a slim, long-tailed bird, primarily gray with a reddish-brown back streaked with black, brown wings and tail, a pink beak, and brownish legs and feet. In the breeding season, the male shows black on his throat, chin, and the front of his face. Females, youngsters and nonbreeding males show little or no black in these areas. An unobtrusive bird, it spends much of its time foraging slowly along the ground, either alone or in small groups, sometimes mixing with other Spizella species. It is an omnivore, feeding primarily on seeds during the winter and insects during the summer. It builds a cup-shaped nest of grasses, rootlets, or plant fibers, into which the female lays 2–5 pale blue eggs. The female does most or all of the egg incubation, but both parents feed the hatched nestlings.