The golden-eared tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in the eastern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
Andes Mountains (eastern slopes)
Typical Environment
Occurs along the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia, primarily in subtropical and tropical moist montane forests. It favors cloud forests, forest edges, and adjacent secondary woodland with abundant epiphytes. Birds typically forage in the mid- to upper canopy, descending to fruiting shrubs along clearings and streams. It is patchy but can be locally common where suitable habitat persists.
Altitude Range
600–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A striking canopy-dweller, the golden-eared tanager is named for its vivid yellow auricular (ear) patch that contrasts with blue-green plumage. It often joins mixed-species flocks, moving rapidly through mossy branches in search of fruit and small arthropods. The species tolerates some secondary growth but is most common in intact montane forest.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Commonly forages in pairs or small groups and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Nest is a small cup placed in dense foliage; both parents likely participate in care as in many tanagers. Territoriality is modest, with birds tolerating conspecifics at productive fruiting trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, thin twitters and high-pitched sibilant notes, often given while foraging. Songs are brief, tinkling phrases interspersed with buzzy trills and chips.
Plumage
Glossy blue-green body with darker scaling, a blackish mask and throat, and a conspicuous golden-yellow ear patch. Wings and tail are dark with blue edging; the underparts are bluish to turquoise. Overall appearance is iridescent with fine contrasting markings.
Diet
Consumes a variety of small fruits and berries, especially from melastomes and other canopy fruiting plants. Supplements fruit with insects and other small arthropods gleaned from leaves and twigs. Occasionally hawks for flying insects in short sallies from perches.
Preferred Environment
Primarily feeds in the mid- to upper canopy of cloud forest and along forest edges and gaps. Frequently visits fruiting trees and shrubs and follows mixed-species flocks through mossy branches.
