Moss-backed Tanager (Bangsia edwardsi)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Moss-backed Tanager

Bangsia edwardsi (Elliot, DG, 1865)

37 gWeight

The moss-backed tanager (Bangsia edwardsi) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae.

Busiest months: January, March and October–November · Most records: Ecuador, Colombia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Moss-backed Tanager has been recorded at 32 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. El Pangán ProAves reserveColombia3,608 records
  2. Reserva Mashpi-AmagusaEcuador3,314 records
  3. Mashpi – Lodge and trailsEcuador866 records
More places
  1. MashpiEcuador332 records
  2. RN Río NambíColombia255 records
  3. Milpe Bird SanctuaryEcuador108 records
  4. Alto Anchicayá - El DescansoColombia106 records
  5. La Delicia – Guayabillas roadEcuador37 records
  6. Refugio Paz de las AvesEcuador13 records
  7. MindoEcuador12 records

Countries and regions with the most records

EcuadorColombia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The moss-backed tanager (Bangsia edwardsi) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. It is a chunky, large-headed tanager with moss-green upperparts, dark blue-tinged dark green wings, olive green underparts, a bright golden yellow patch on the chest, and black head with shining blue sides.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Moss-backed Tanager?

The Moss-backed Tanager weighs around 37 g.

Where does the Moss-backed Tanager live?

Its breeding range: South America: Colombia and Ecuador. It is most often recorded in Ecuador and Colombia.

When is the best time to see the Moss-backed Tanager?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, March, October and November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Moss-backed Tanager endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Moss-backed Tanager as Least Concern.

What does the Moss-backed Tanager eat?

Main food: Fruit.

What family is the Moss-backed Tanager in?

It belongs to the family Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
37 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Fruit
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
90 mm
Tail
54 mm
Bill
17 mm
Tarsus
24 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: Colombia and Ecuador

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Tanagers & Allies Thraupidae
Genus
Bangsia

Other birds in the genus Bangsia

Yellow-green TanagerYellow-green TanagerBangsia flavovirensBlue-and-gold TanagerBlue-and-gold TanagerBangsia arcaeiGold-ringed TanagerGold-ringed TanagerBangsia aureocinctaGolden-chested TanagerGolden-chested TanagerBangsia rothschildiBlack-and-gold TanagerBlack-and-gold TanagerBangsia melanochlamysPlushcapPlushcapCatamblyrhynchus diademaCoal-crested FinchCoal-crested FinchCharitospiza eucosmaBrown TanagerBrown TanagerOrchesticus abeilleiYellow-shouldered GrosbeakYellow-shouldered GrosbeakParkerthraustes humeralisHooded TanagerHooded TanagerNemosia pileata
Moss-backed Tanager

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Eric Carpenter. ↗

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