the remarkably ornate speckled tanager. several populations exist, scattered between the mountains of northern South America. a forest dweller, visiting forest edges and deeper portions alike. rarely found alone, usually in the company of at least one same-species bird, and at most, they join large flocks composed of many different other types of tanager!
these critters don't have any super significant level of sexual dimorphism - i'm wondering if this is a trait common among birds which don't migrate - or maybe those which live in the tropics - or maybe both. in any case, i'm sure these hyperdiverse equatorial rainforests have no shortage of pigmented foods which the resident birds can exploit.
their diet is mainly composed of fruit, and they're often seen visiting fruit feeders meant to attract frugivorous birds. they also eat arthropods, mainly plucked from the sides of trees they were already visiting. certainly not picky about forests at all, being a resident of both old- and new-growth woodlands, at high elevations and low. they'll also check out plantations and rural gardens.
11 June 2026
