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Green-naped Tanager Tangara fucosa Scientific name definitions

Steven Hilty
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2011

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

The Green-naped Tanager forms a superspecies with the Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii) of Costa Rica and western Panama, and these two species were formerly considered to be conspecifics. Like the Spangle-cheeked Tanager, this species should prove easily identifiable, especially given that it is confined to a tiny range in the highlands of easternmost Panama, where it is generally considered to be uncommon at elevations between 600 and 1350 m. The Green-naped Tanager is usually found in small groups, and these either travel alone or join mixed-species flocks, especially those containing another regional endemic, the Pirre Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus inornatus).

Field Identification

12 cm; 18–23 g. Small tanager with “unkempt”, spangled appearance. Plumage is mainly blackish above, with pale greenish spangles on crown and nape, small bluish-green central crown spot (incon­spicuous); greenish rump, becoming light blue on uppertail-coverts; upperwing-coverts dusky, edged blue, flight-feathers dusky, edged paler blue; chin and throat dull black, feathers of foreneck with blue scaling, breast and sides with dull black spots, edged bluish-green to brownish-yellow, rest of underparts cinnamon-buff; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey. Differs from very similar T. dowii in overall duller appearance, the blackish areas less intense, bluish-green (not rufous) crown patch, blue scaling on foreneck, black spots extending farther onto sides, and lower underparts paler and duller. Sexes similar. Juvenile undescribed.

Systematics History

See T. vassorii (above). Has been considered conspecific with T. dowii, the two being similar in vocalizations, behaviour and habitat preference, but differs in its bluish-green vs rufous spot on mid-crown (3); strong blue vs pale bluish-green scaling on breast (2); more extensive and larger spotting on flanks (2); pale green vs pale greenish-blue iridescent flecking on ear-coverts, neck sides and nape (ns[1]). Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Mountains of E Panama on Cerro Pirre, the Serranía de Jungurudó, Serranía del Sapo (1), and Cerro Malí (near Cerro Tacarcuna), and Panama–Colombia border on Cerro Tacarcuna; one sight record in NW Colombia on Cerro Tacarcuna (R Tigre).

Habitat

Humid pre-montane and montane forest and forest borders. Mostly above 1350 m, but recorded down to 550 m near Cana, in Darién (E Panama).

Movement

No information.

Diet and Foraging

Has been observed to take berries of Miconia and an epiphytic vine. Contents of three stomachs were fruit. Reported in groups of 3–4 individuals with mixed-species flocks, especially with Chlorospingus inornatus. Seen to forage in crowns of trees in elfin forest, inspecting small leaves and mosses on slender branches.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Calls high-pitched “tsit” notes and longer “tseet”, uttered singly, in combination, or in rapid ticking series; apparently much like (if not identical to) those of T. dowii. Song apparently undescribed.

Breeding

One nest reported in Aug in Serranía de Jungurudó. Nest appeared ball-shaped, was located c. 15 m up between palm-frond leaflets and atop main palm vein; as all known nests of this genus are cup-nests (though sometimes built inside moss clump on side of branch, or suspended in moss beneath branch), further confirmation of nest structure of this species needed. No further information available.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Darién Highlands EBA. Fairly common within its extremely limited global range. Occurs in Darién National Park, in Panama. In Colombia, known from a single sight record that may fall within Los Katíos National Park, but status in Colombia uncertain. There is, at present, minimal human impact within its tiny range. Gold-mining at elevations below those at which this species occurs present a potential problem. More importantly, the possible extension and completion of the Pan-American highway link through Darién could be environmentally disastrous for this species because of the deforestation and human settlement that would inevitably follow.
Distribution of the Green-naped Tanager - Range Map
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Distribution of the Green-naped Tanager

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Hilty, S. (2020). Green-naped Tanager (Tangara fucosa), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.grntan1.01
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