The flame-faced tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is endemic to South America and is found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a distinctive-looking species with black and opalescent green upperparts, opalescent green and buff underparts, and a deep red and yellow face. The subspecies lunigera lacks the deep red on the face, which is replaced with orangish-red.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
It inhabits humid montane forests on the slopes of the Andes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. The species favors cloud-forest interiors and edges, as well as adjacent secondary growth with abundant epiphytes. Individuals are most often found in the mid to upper canopy but will descend to forest borders and clearings to forage. It readily joins mixed-species flocks moving along mossy limbs and through fruiting trees.
Altitude Range
1200–2800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This striking tanager is easily recognized by its fiery red-and-yellow face set against glossy black and green upperparts. It often travels with mixed-species flocks in Andean cloud forests, moving nimbly through the mid to upper canopy. Subspecies vary slightly in facial coloration; for example, lunigera replaces the deep red with more orange tones. It frequently visits fruiting trees and is an important seed disperser.
T. p. lunigera
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forages in pairs or small groups and frequently integrates into fast-moving mixed-species flocks. Nests are placed in dense vegetation in montane forest, and pairs are thought to maintain small territories during breeding. Outside the breeding season, it shows loose flocking behavior around fruiting trees.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, high, twinkling series of notes interspersed with buzzy trills. Calls include sharp tsip and tsee notes exchanged within flocks.
