Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Big, Bold and Beautiful: Flame-faced Tanager

Provided by American Bird Conservancy

Deep red fades into bright yellow on the head of this spectacular bird, giving the species its common name. Flame-faced Tanagers are found only in the eastern Andes Mountains from southwest Venezuela to central Peru, where they join mixed-species flocks with birds such as wintering https://default.salsalabs.org/Tc9d1770e-33ba-4bb3-a65e-fae07eeae215/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://default.salsalabs.org/Tc9d1770e-33ba-4bb3-a65e-fae07eeae215/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNH54bdsZozC4k8qSgE05yAJU62dqA">Scarlet Tanagers.

At nearly six inches in length, the Flame-faced Tanager is one of the largest members of its genus, Tangara. This group of about 50 neotropical birds includes some of the world's most spectacular species, including https://default.salsalabs.org/T4bb7dc87-5374-4b27-8966-48ae563d5b5a/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://default.salsalabs.org/T4bb7dc87-5374-4b27-8966-48ae563d5b5a/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNGBL3nzUQP2h6TPqrsnJiX32-Ugug">Gilt-edged Tanager, https://default.salsalabs.org/T4a73f87b-63dc-4990-a1e0-49bcc1af3285/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://default.salsalabs.org/T4a73f87b-63dc-4990-a1e0-49bcc1af3285/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNFstLapBl6jGjXHx-oGXhn4kBRx6g">Green-headed Tanager, and https://default.salsalabs.org/T8a348e1d-25c9-4853-becb-3bf4a533d757/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://default.salsalabs.org/T8a348e1d-25c9-4853-becb-3bf4a533d757/a7e0f36d-250d-474c-a670-bcae197b0d0d&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNHnePEu9XQiV8wDCR7L0pS_QoCOOQ">Seven-colored Tanager. Three subspecies of Flame-faced Tanager are recognized, distinguished by differences in plumage and distribution.
Fruit Feeders

Like other tanagers, the Flame-faced Tanager eats a variety of fruits and insects. This species tends to forage along horizontal, moss-covered tree branches, probing the moss for insects and even pulling pieces away to uncover prey. They are often seen foraging in pairs.

Flame-faced Tanagers readily visit fruit feeders, and birders can spot them at several American Bird Conservancy-supported reserves that provide habitat for some of the world's rarest bird species. These special places include http://conservationbirding.org/aboutap.htm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://conservationbirding.org/aboutap.htm&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNEtRke47_K2_yBsmKNWCVRAHnLkuA">Tapichalaca and http://conservationbirding.org/aboutbuenaventura.htm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://conservationbirding.org/aboutbuenaventura.htm&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNEtgq5XdJt1uwS-kf_B8Aw6dKvpFg">Buenaventura in Ecuador; http://conservationbirding.org/aboutabra.htm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://conservationbirding.org/aboutabra.htm&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNGL_Zra6ycbRSa5BBOVeI5GvC7KEQ">Abra Patricia in Peru; and the http://conservationbirding.org/aboutcerul.htm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://conservationbirding.org/aboutcerul.htm&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNEsTEoFHNl_y4QrOJ82wmyT7tJ9gQ">Cerulean Warbler Reserve in Colombia. (As its name suggests, the Cerulean Warbler Reserve provides vital habitat for the rapidly declining https://abcbirds.org/bird/cerulean-warbler/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://abcbirds.org/bird/cerulean-warbler/&source=gmail&ust=1511387095877000&usg=AFQjCNFARY327A2GDFwnUozv396biuU4XQ">Cerulean Warbler and many other migratory birds.)

Stealth Nesting

Flame-faced Tanagers are fairly quiet when nesting and exhibit little if any territorial behavior. This stealthy species has been discovered nesting in open habitats such as pastures or forest edges, but it also nests in forests.

Although details about this species' behavior are scanty, some interesting facts are known. For example, nesting Flame-faced Tanager parents rapidly probe the nesting material under and around their chicks. Researchers believe this may help to remove fleas and other parasites from the nest, protecting the nestlings.


More at www.abcbirds.org