NO OTHER BIRD IN THE TANAGER FAMILY HAS SUCH A STRIKING SPANGLED APPEARANCE.

The Beryl-spangled tanager (Tangara nigroviridis) is not called spangled for no reason. Its plumage is largely turquoise, though heavily marked with black spots and scales. Its breast and belly are primarily black, with a multicolored greenish spotting.^[2]

The tiny songbird is on average only 13 cm (5.1 in) in length and weighs in at around 20g. Females of this species also have a spangled appearance, though the males is much more vivid. This bird’s entire body is boldly spotted with bright blue and green gems which contrast nicely with its black mask and back, giving its plumage a brightly spangled turquoise appearance. In short, this is a beautiful bird.

This species has a very large range and can be found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Living in the tropical zones of those regions at around an elevation of 1,500 to 2,900 meters (4,900–9,500 ft). This bird likes to feed on fruit and nectar spreading seeds wherever it goes, in the process fostering the growth of new forests.

The female of this species builds a mossy nest in the fork of her chosen tree, where she lays 2-5 eggs around March. She will incubate the eggs for 13 to 15 days. The chicks will be fully-fledged in about 14 to 20 days. The exact number of birds is not known, but it is thought there are about 10,000 birds, being a stable population that is not too fragmented.