Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Anisognathus somptuosus

Cali Valle Del Cauca Colombia

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Anisognathus somptuosus
  • Spanish Name: Tangara aliazul
  • Family: Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Tangara Aliazul
  • Average Length: 18 cm / 7.1 in
  • Average Weight: 37–48 g / 1.3–1.7 oz
  • Wingspan: 25–30 cm / 10–12 in
  • Key Feature: Vibrant blue wings and tail contrasting with a bright yellow crown and underparts
  • Primary Diet: Omnivorous (Primarily Frugivorous and Insectivorous)
  • Range: Andes Mountains from Venezuela to Bolivia
  • Habitat: Subtropical or tropical moist montane forests
  • Social Structure: Pairs or small groups, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nests built in dense foliage or trees
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager (*Anisognathus somptuosus*) is a visually stunning songbird that serves as a vibrant jewel of the humid Andean cloud forests. This medium-sized tanager is easily identified by its brilliant golden-yellow crown and underparts, which contrast dramatically with a dark facial mask and a mossy-green back. Its most defining feature is the striking cerulean blue that brushes its wings and tail, creating a vivid flash of color as it darts through the canopy. Highly social and energetic, these birds are frequently seen in small, active groups or as core members of mixed-species foraging flocks, where they search for fruit and insects. Their presence is often heralded by a series of thin, high-pitched squeaks, making them both a visual and auditory highlight of the high-altitude tropical landscape.

Fun Facts

These birds are acrobatic foragers that frequently hang upside down to pluck berries or extract insects from the undersides of leaves. They are the social leaders of the Andes, often serving as the "nuclear" species that initiates and guides large, mixed-species flocks through the cloud forest canopy. Unlike many sedentary tropical birds, they are altitudinal commuters that shift their elevation up and down mountain slopes to track the ripening cycles of their favorite fruits. Their vocalizations are also remarkably high-pitched, featuring thin, seeping notes that can be difficult for the human ear to distinguish from the background rustle of the forest.

Habitats & Distribution

This species is primarily distributed along the Andes Mountains in South America, spanning a range that includes Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and northern Bolivia. It typically inhabits elevations between 1,200 and 2,500 meters, though local populations may occasionally be found slightly outside this range depending on the specific topography and climate of the region.

Its preferred habitats consist of humid montane forests, lush cloud forests, and dense forest edges. It is also frequently observed in secondary-growth woodlands and areas where clearings meet the forest canopy. These high-altitude environments provide the necessary cover and abundant food sources, such as small fruits and insects, required for its survival in the Andean ecosystem.

Behaviours & Reproduction

Socially active, these birds are typically found in pairs or small family groups that frequently join larger mixed-species foraging flocks within the Andean canopy. They exhibit a restless energy, moving quickly through the foliage to forage for fruit and insects. While social during most of the year, they become more territorial during the breeding season, using high-pitched vocalizations to define their space and maintain contact with their mate or group members.

Reproduction follows a monogamous pattern, with pairs establishing stable bonds to raise their young. They construct well-concealed, cup-shaped nests made of moss, lichen, and rootlets, often hidden high in the trees among epiphytes. A typical clutch consists of two eggs, and both parents share the responsibility of feeding the chicks once they hatch. This biparental care is crucial for the survival of the fledglings in the dense and often unpredictable environment of the cloud forest.

Diet

The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager maintains an omnivorous diet centered primarily on a wide variety of small fruits and berries, which it frequently supplements with protein-rich insects and spiders. This bird is a highly active forager, often observed in mixed-species flocks moving through the middle and upper layers of the Andean cloud forest canopy to glean arthropods from moss-covered branches and foliage. An interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its remarkable agility; individuals are frequently seen hanging upside down or performing acrobatic maneuvers to reach succulent fruits on thin outer twigs that are often inaccessible to heavier species. By consuming these fruits whole and later excreting the seeds, the species plays a vital ecological role as an effective seed disperser across its high-altitude habitat.

Colors

The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager features brilliant yellow underparts and a matching crown patch that contrast sharply with a black facial mask. Its wings and tail are a vivid, saturated blue, while its back ranges from moss-green to blackish depending on the subspecies. These bold, high-contrast colors serve primarily for social signaling and species recognition within the dense, shaded canopy of Andean cloud forests.