Blue-necked Tanager

Stilpnia cyanicollis

birdwatching in san felipe

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Stilpnia cyanicollis
  • Family: Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: Tangara de cuello azul, Blue-hooded Tanager
  • Average Length: 12–13 cm / 4.7–5.1 in
  • Average Weight: 14–17 g / 0.49–0.60 oz
  • Wingspan: 18–22 cm / 7.1–8.7 in
  • Key Feature: Bright azure-blue head and neck with contrasting golden-yellow wing coverts and black body
  • Primary Diet: Omnivore (Primarily Frugivore and Insectivore)
  • Range: South America (Andes and Amazon basin: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil)
  • Habitat: Subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest
  • Social Structure: Pairs or small groups; often joins mixed-species foraging flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Open-cup nest built from moss, rootlets, and liverworts in tree branches
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Blue-necked Tanager (*Stilpnia cyanicollis*) is a small, spectacularly colored songbird native to the humid forests and woodland edges of South America. It is most renowned for its namesake feature: a brilliant, iridescent turquoise-blue head and neck that contrasts sharply against its velvety black underparts and back. Adding to its jewel-like appearance are its striking wings, which feature shimmering patches of golden-yellow or straw-colored feathers on the shoulders. These social birds are high-energy foragers, often seen flitting through the canopy in mixed-species flocks as they search for a diet of berries, seeds, and small insects. With its radiant plumage and high-pitched, metallic chirps, the Blue-necked Tanager serves as a vibrant and captivating gem of the tropical landscape.

Habitats & Distribution

This species is widely distributed across South America, primarily inhabiting the tropical and subtropical regions of the Andes Mountains. Its range extends through Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, reaching as far east as the western Amazon basin in Brazil. It is most commonly found on both the eastern and western slopes of the Andes, typically occupying elevations between 500 and 2,000 meters.

Within this range, it thrives in a variety of humid environments, including the canopy and edges of montane evergreen forests and mature secondary growth. It is highly adaptable to human-altered landscapes and is frequently spotted in forest clearings, plantations, and suburban gardens. These birds prefer areas with a mix of dense foliage for nesting and open spaces for foraging on fruits and insects.

Behaviours & Reproduction

These birds are primarily social, often observed in pairs or small family groups ranging from three to six individuals. They are active members of mixed-species foraging flocks, navigating the forest canopy with agility to feed on fruits, berries, and small insects. Their social structure is characterized by high levels of interaction within these groups, which provides enhanced protection against predators and increases foraging efficiency through collective vigilance.

During the breeding season, they form monogamous pairs and construct small, cup-shaped nests hidden deep within dense foliage or among epiphytes. A typical clutch consists of two eggs, which the female incubates while the male remains nearby to defend the territory. Both parents share the responsibility of feeding the hatchlings a protein-rich diet of insects, a cooperative strategy that ensures the rapid development of the young. This biparental care is essential for the survival of the fledglings, who often remain with their parents in a cohesive unit for several weeks after leaving the nest.

Diet

The Blue-necked Tanager maintains an omnivorous diet primarily composed of small fruits, berries, and seeds, which it supplements with a variety of insects and spiders. This bird is known for its active foraging style, often joining mixed-species flocks to scour the canopy for food. An interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its agility; it frequently hangs upside down from branches to reach elusive fruit or glean larvae from the undersides of leaves. While it primarily consumes fruit from trees like those in the Melastomataceae family, it also engages in "sallying" to catch flying insects mid-air. Additionally, these tanagers play a vital role in their ecosystem as seed dispersers and are frequently observed visiting garden feeders to feast on soft fruits like bananas and oranges.

Colors

The Blue-necked Tanager is defined by its vibrant, luminous violet-blue head and neck, which contrast sharply against a velvety black body. Its wings and tail are characterized by broad, shimmering edges of golden-straw or lime-green, while the lower back and rump often display a pale turquoise hue. This combination of brilliant primary colors and dark plumage allows the bird to both stand out during displays and blend into the dappled light and shadows of the tropical canopy.

Fun Facts

These birds are remarkable acrobats, frequently hanging completely upside down from precarious branches to reach the ripest fruit. To protect their young, they construct "camouflaged" cup nests disguised with living moss and lichen, making them nearly invisible against the humid forest backdrop. Beyond their fruit-heavy diet, they exhibit a surprising hunting skill called sallying, where they dart from a perch to snatch insects out of mid-air like tiny flycatchers. They are also highly social "joiners," often seen acting as active sentinels in mixed-species foraging flocks to help the group spot potential predators.