About Stilpnia preciosa (Cabanis, 1851)
The chestnut-backed tanager, scientifically named Stilpnia preciosa (Cabanis, 1851), is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It occurs in southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and Uruguay, where it inhabits mature forests, particularly forest edges, at elevations up to 1000 meters. It is closely related to the less common black-backed tanager; the two species have identical plumage except for the mantle (back feathers) of males, and females of the two species are almost impossible to tell apart by plumage. This species is identifiable by its blue-green breast and chestnut-colored back. It was formerly classified as a color morph of the black-backed tanager (Stilpnia peruviana), but the genus Stilpnia is not known to be polymorphic, and the two species differ in their habitat preferences and breeding ranges. The chestnut-backed tanager is reported to be fairly common across portions of its range and is not known to face any specific threats. For these reasons, the IUCN has assessed it as a species of Least Concern. In terms of behavior and ecology, the chestnut-backed tanager feeds on a range of arthropods, as well as wild and cultivated fruits. It can be seen in pairs and in small flocks, which are often mixed-species flocks.
