Black-chested Mountain Tanager

The Black-chested Mountain Tanager occurs along the eastern slope of the northern Ecuadorian Andes, particularly in humid montane forests and forest edges between 2,400 and 3,400 meters. It is generally rare and patchily distributed, often seen in small groups or mixed-species flocks foraging in the canopy for fruit and insects. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a relatively broad Andean range and a population that appears stable, though its dependence on intact forest interiors makes it vulnerable to habitat loss. Natural history observations highlight its striking blue-and-black plumage, social foraging behavior, and preference for mossy, epiphyte-rich habitats, while its nesting biology remains poorly documented.