Beryl-spangled Tanager

The Beryl-spangled Tanager occurs along the eastern and western slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes, inhabiting humid montane forests and adjacent second growth typically between 700 and 2,500 meters. It is generally uncommon but regularly encountered, often joining mixed-species flocks in the canopy where it forages for fruit and insects, its turquoise plumage intricately marked with black spangles making it one of the most striking tanagers in the region. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad Andean range and a population that, while slowly declining due to habitat loss, remains stable overall. Natural history observations highlight its social foraging behavior, medium dependency on forest cover, and preference for mature montane habitats, though nesting biology remains poorly documented.