From Opus

Anisognathus lacrymosus

[edit] Identification

18cm. (7in.) A typical bright, showy Mountain-tanager. Most easily identified by yellow spots below the eyes and behind the ears. Bright mustard-yellow below, slate blue above, with fine blue edges on wing and tail.

[edit] Similar Species

Similar to Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, but the latter is a brighter lemon yellow below, and lacks the head spots. Also similar to Black-cheeked Mountain-Tanager which has different color blue on the crown and lacks the yellow spots behind the ears.

[edit] Distribution

Eastern slope of Andes between 2300 and 3200m elevation.

[edit] Taxonomy

Eight subspecies are recognized (with one additional subspecies recently described):

• A.l. pallididorsalis
• A.l. melanops
• A.l. tamae
• A.l. intensus
• A.l. olivaceiceps
• A.l. palpebrosus
• A.l. caerulescens
• A.l. lacrymosus

[edit] Habitat

Temperate forest, borders, and woodlands.

[edit] Behaviour

Common and conspicuous; often forages in small flocks with other tanagers and mixed species low in the foliage where easily seen.

[edit] References

1. Thread in Birdforum Taxonomy forum discussing this species
2. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

[edit] External Links