Sep 25

Bird of the day

Flame-crested tanager

Tachyphonus cristatus

The flame-crested tanager (Loriotus cristatus) 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.

The flame-crested tanager grows to a length of about 15 cm (6 in) and a weight of around 20 g (0.7 oz). The male has a black head, small orangeish-red bib and a moderate-sized orangish crest. The upper parts are slatey-black with a golden-buff rump, and the upper wing-coverts bear a large patch of white. The underparts are dark brownish-black. The female is similar in appearance to the white-winged shrike-tanager (Lanio versicolor) but is more brown above with buff-ochre rather than yellowish-ochre underparts.

Aliases

Tachyphonus cristatus

Range

Range map of Flame-crested tanager

Data retrieved on October 15, 2025 at 5:20 AM