TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae

Genus/species: Tangara velia

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Medium sized predominately blue and black. The crown and back are black, with a bright opalescent rump. The head and underparts are deep iridescent blue and the lower belly is reddish chestnut and crissum. Sexes are similar in both size and plumage with the female being duller.

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Bolivia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Found in tropical forests, from emergent to shrub layer, especially lowland rainforests and the forest edge, though found in some areas up to 1200 m (4000 feet).

DIET: Omnivorous

CONSERVATION: IUCN, Least Concern (LC)

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REMARKS: Generally seen in pairs and/or small groups of mixed species. Emit a high-pitched twitter in flight.

Ron’s flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608454346681/with/3161783604/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-15Y