Tangara peruviana and Tangara preciosa are rather similar taxa showing parapatric distribution along the Mata Atlântica areas of Southeastern and Southern Brazil, and have been thus treated as a single species with two subspecies throughout its history. Even those authors that regarded them as independent species, do so with reservations, furthering the case for future taxonomic revision. This paper reviews the taxonomic status of these species, reinforcing their validity based on color and morphometric analysis.Tangara peruviana occurs from Espírito Santo to Paraná, inhabiting mainly restingas, and being characterized by having a black back. Tangara preciosa occurs from the extreme northern Paraná southwards to Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay, inhabiting coastal forests as well as interior forests with presence of Araucaria. It is diagnosable by its chestnut back patch.
