This is a petite and agile tanager species, exhibiting strikingly distinct plumage between males and females.

Meet the Black-capped Tanager:

” Tanager heinei / Black-capped Tanager (male) ” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .

Description: The black-capped tanager (Stilpnia heinei) is a Neotropical bird species belonging to the Thraupidae family. The black-capped tanager measures approximately 13 centimeters (5 inches) in length and weighs between 18 and 20 grams. Its features include a dark brown iris, black beak, and black legs. Male black-capped tanagers sport a black crown that extends to the lores, forehead, and upper nape. Their upperparts exhibit a shining silvery bluish-grey hue, contrasting sharply with the black crown. The throat, sides of the neck, sides of the head up to the eye, and the chest shimmer in an aquamarine-green or opalescent green, with black-based feathers, lending a streaked appearance, especially on the chest. The remaining underparts are a dull greyish-blue, except for the undertail-coverts, which have dark centers and broad white edges.

“Black-capped Tanager (f) JCB (cropped and mirrored)” by Joseph C Boone is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In contrast, females have a dusky crown with green-edged feathers, and their upperparts are a uniform shining green. The primary coverts of females are dusky with a green outer edge, while the greater coverts are dusky on the inner half and dull green on the outer half. Their wing coverts generally appear green.

Immature males resemble females but have pale blue edges on their primary feathers. Juveniles and immature individuals of both sexes are duller than adult females. Subadult males exhibit a mix of adult male and female plumage.

“Tangara heinei / Tángara capirotada / Black-capped Tanager (male)” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

It resides year-round in the mountainous regions of Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. These birds can often be spotted in open landscapes, either solitary or in pairs, taking refuge beneath the branches of trees and bushes. Their natural habitats consist of subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, as well as heavily degraded former forests.

“Tangara heinei / Tángara capirotada / Black-capped Tanager (male)” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Habitat and Distribution Black-capped tanagers inhabit tropical moist montane forests in northern Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. They can be found at the fringes of subtropical forests, secondary woodlands, and in trees and shrubs in nearby open areas.

“Black-capped Tanager” by ryanacandee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Diet These tanagers primarily feed on insects, foraging in low shrubs and trees near the trunk, on branches that may be bare or covered in moss. They also consume fruits, including berries and cecropia fruit.

“Tangara heinei / Tángara capirotada / Black-capped Tanager (male)” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The black-capped tanager can be mistaken for the silver-backed tanager (Stilpnia viridicollis) at the southern edge of its range. However, females of the silver-backed tanager have a coppery throat instead of green. The beryl-spangled tanager (Tangara nigroviridis) is another similar species but lacks the black crown and displays a uniformly opalescent head.

“calliste argenté, saíra-prateada, silver-backed tanager, silvery tanager, tangara dorsiplateada” by thibaudaronson is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. (cropped)

Reproduction During wetter periods, both male and female black-capped tanagers participate in feeding their young and building the nest. The nest’s exterior consists mainly of rootlets and lichen, sometimes moss, held together by spider webs and egg sacs. The interior of the nest contains lichen, rootlets, and grass strips. The female shapes the nest into a cup by pressing her body down and vibrating. The female incubates the eggs for an average of 14 days while the male occasionally provides food. If a nest predator approaches, such as the green jay, the female will sink into the nest to protect her eggs.

“Tangara heinei / Tángara capirotada / Black-capped Tanager (male)” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Behavior Black-capped tanagers are often observed either alone or in pairs, frequently seeking shelter under branches. Their behavior and ecology share similarities with other montane Tangara species. However, they are more commonly seen foraging in clearings and outside of dense forests, often in pairs, rather than in mixed flocks.

“Tangara heinei / Tángara capirotada / Black-capped Tanager (male)” by felixú is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Conservation Status The global population of black-capped tanagers remains unknown, but they are described as uncommon within their range. As of 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as a species of “least concern” due to the absence of evidence for population or range declines. Their ability to inhabit disturbed forest habitats has likely contributed to this classification. However, potential future threats may arise if disturbances, such as nest intrusions, increase.

“Black-capped Tanager” by ryanacandee is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

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