Yellow-backed Tanager (Hemithraupis flavicollis)
Male Yellow-backed Tanager, north of Manaus, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
August 2004

The Yellow-backed Tanager is distributed round the edges of the Amazon Basin and along the north bank of the Amazon near Manaus with disjunct populations in northern Colombia, Panama and along the coast of eastern Brazil.

This bird belongs to the sub-species H. f. obidensis.
Male Yellow-backed Tanager, north of Manaus, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image It is found in the canopy and borders of rain forest but is usually very high up and difficult to see. They normally form part of mixed canopy flocks.

The male is mostly black above with a yellow rump and lower back. The wing shows a small white speculum. Below the throat and crissum are bright yellow while elsewhere it is whitish with a mottled look. The bill is blackish above and pinkish below
Female Yellow-backed Tanager, north of Manaus, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image The female, seen here in the 3rd photo, is dark olive above and the wings are broadly edged yellow. It is yellow below but greyer on the flanks.

It feeds mainly on insects but also eats fruit.
Male Yellow-backed Tanager, north of Manaus, Brazil, August 2004 - click for larger image
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