Blue-and-black Tanager (Tangara vassorii) [XC389774]
by id from Inca Bridge, Machu Picchu, Peru (call)
Blue-and-black Tanager (Tangara vassorii) [XC230525]
by Mitch Lysinger from Apaya-Andamarca road, Jun\u00edn, Peru (song)
Subspecies
Molecular-genetic data indicate that this species, Beryl-spangled Tanager (Tangara nigroviridis), Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii) and Green-naped Tanager (Tangara fucosa) form a species group, with present species being basal to the other three. Taxonomic status of the two southern subspecies, which differ markedly from nominate northern subspecies, may merit investigation.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
vassorii (Boissonneau, 1840) - Andes in Venezuela (Trujillo south to Táchira) and throughout Colombia south to Ecuador and eastern slope in northern Peru (south to Piura and Cajamarca north of R Marañón).
branickii (Taczanowski, 1882) - Eastern slope of Andes in Peru south of R Marañón (Amazonas and La Libertad).
atrocoerulea (Tschudi, 1844) - Eastern slope in Peru (southern from Huánuco) and Bolivia (south to western Santa Cruz). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Spot-bellied Tanager (Tangara atrocoerulea).