Violet shoulder tangerine
| Violet shoulder tangerine | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
| Wetmorethraupis | ||||||||||||
| Lowery & O'Neill , 1964 | ||||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
| Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron | ||||||||||||
| Lowery & O'Neill, 1964 |
The violet-shoulder Tanager ( Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron ) is a Singvogelart from the family of tanagers . It is the only species within the genus Wetmorethraupis and named after the American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore .
description
The violet shoulder tangare reaches a length of 17 cm. It is characterized by its striking, bright black, orange and blue color. The head, tail and most of the wings are black. The wing covers, umbrella feathers and arm wings are purple-blue. The chest and throat are orange, the lower abdomen and rump are bright ocher yellow.
Occurrence and habitat
The occurrence of this species extends from the Cordillera del Cóndor in the Ecuadorian province of Zamora Chinchipe to the northern Amazon region in Peru . It occurs on the western slopes above the Río Nangaritza in Ecuador and on the lower eastern slopes and mountain foothills above the Río Marañón and Río Cenepa in Peru. According to the Aguaruna Indians, it should also occur in the forests in the headwaters of the Río Nieva southwest of the known distribution area. Their habitat includes the terra firme rainforest and the mountain forests in the upper tropical zone between 600 and 1000 meters.
Way of life
The way of life of the violet-shouldered tangare has hardly been researched. It looks for food in pairs or in small groups of up to five birds. Occasionally she joins unfamiliar flocks of birds. Their diet consists of fruits and insects.
status
The violet-shouldered tangar is still found relatively frequently where there is useful habitat. According to estimates by BirdLife International, between 10,000 and 20,000 specimens live in Peru . However, their living space is increasingly narrowed by clearing. In northern Peru, the mountain foothills are already heavily deforested, but the Anguaruna Indians have so far been able to prevent a stronger penetration into their territory.
Web links
- BirdLife factsheet
- Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2013.