The flame-crested tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Ten subspecies are currently recognized.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Found across lowland tropical forests from Venezuela and the Guianas through Amazonian Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and much of northern Brazil. It frequents moist terra firme and várzea forests, as well as forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth. In some parts of its range it also occurs in drier shrublands and gallery forests. The species is most often encountered in the midstory but will move into the canopy when tracking fruiting trees.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Males sport a vivid orange-red crest that they can raise during displays, making the bird instantly recognizable in dim forest light. This species often joins mixed-species flocks in the midstory, where it forages actively for fruit and insects. It adapts well to forest edges and secondary growth, which helps it persist in moderately altered landscapes.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and commonly joins mixed-species flocks in the midstory. Males display by raising the crest during territorial or courtship interactions. The cup-shaped nest is built low to mid-level in dense vegetation, and both parents participate in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a simple series of thin, high-pitched chips and twitters delivered from mid-canopy perches. Calls include sharp tsee notes and soft contact calls when moving with flocks.
Plumage
Male is mostly glossy black with a striking fiery crest; female is brownish-olive with a duller, orange-tinged crest and paler underparts. Plumage is smooth and unbarred, with subtle sheen in males. The crest is often flattened and becomes conspicuous when raised.
Diet
Takes small fruits and berries and supplements with insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and twigs. Will occasionally sally for flying insects and probe clusters of leaves. Diet varies seasonally with fruit availability.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory and lower canopy along forest edges, secondary growth, and clearings with fruiting shrubs and trees. Also feeds within mature forest, especially at fruiting trees shared with other tanagers.
