Habitat
Very humid elfin forest, scattered bushes, bamboo, giant grasses and dense brush, on the páramo-forest ecotone. From 2,900 - 3,600 m, and possibly higher before human alteration of the treeline.
Central Andes of south-western Colombia (Quindío, and southern on both slopes in Cauca and Huila to Nariño), south through Ecuador (mostly on eastern slope, from Carchi, western Napo and western Morona-Santiago south to eastern Loja and southern Zamora-Chinchipe) and adjacent north-western Peru (along Piuraâ€"Cajamarca border).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation through burning, firewood-gathering and potato cultivation, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
Usually in pairs or small groups near timberline.
Voice
High-pitched metallic monotonic calls, about 2 per second.
Masked Mountain Tanager (Tephrophilus wetmorei) [XC512486]
by Hans Matheve from Cerro Toledo, Podocarpus NP, Loja, Ecuador (song?)
Masked Mountain Tanager (Tephrophilus wetmorei) [XC264833]
by Jonas Nilsson from Azuay: upper Gualaceo-Lim\u00f3n road, Ecuador (alarm call, alarm calls)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Originally described in a monotypic genus, Tephrophilus. Molecular-genetic studies indicate that this species is only distantly related to other members of present genus, and that it should probably either be returned to original genus or placed in enlarged genus containing numerous other mountain-tanagers.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet