About Tangara dowii (Salvin, 1863)
The spangle-cheeked tanager, with the scientific name Tangara dowii, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This species is an endemic resident breeder found in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama. It was formerly considered to belong to the same species as the green-naped tanager, but researchers now confirm that these two species differ in both geographic distribution and genetics. It is common at altitudes between approximately 1,200 to 3,000 m (3,900 to 9,800 ft), where it lives in the canopy of wet mountain forests that contain abundant epiphytes. It can also occur at lower elevations in semi-open habitats, including tree-dotted clearings, second growth, and woodland edges. The species builds a bulky cup-shaped nest lined with bromeliad leaves. The nest is placed in a tree fork or on a high branch nestled among epiphytes. A typical clutch contains two eggs. Adult spangle-cheeked tanagers measure 13 cm (5.1 in) in length and weigh 20 g (0.71 oz). Adults have mostly black heads, upperparts, and breasts, with blue scaling on the breast, the sides of the face, and the neck, along with a rufous crown patch. Blue edging appears on the wings and tail. The rump is green, and the belly is cinnamon. The sexes are very similar in appearance, but adult males have more extensive blue scaling. Immature birds are generally duller than adults, lack the crown patch, and have less distinct blue scaling. Spangle-cheeked tanagers live in pairs, family groups, or join mixed-species feeding flocks, especially flocks that contain common bush tanagers. They feed on small fruit (usually swallowed whole), insects, and spiders. The call of the spangle-cheeked tanager is a high tsip.
