General

Flame-colored Tanager: Tropical tanager with flame red-orange body, black wings with white wing bars and spots, and black-streaked back. Face has pale gray-tinged ear patch bordered with black. Female and juvenile are washed olive-green above and olive-yellow below.

Range and Habitat

Flame-colored Tanager: This species is a resident in Mexico and is an occasional visitor to the mountains of southwest Texas. Some individuals breed farther north in Mexico and into the mountains of southeastern Arizona. Its preferred habitats include humid coniferous, oak, and pine-oak forests in mountains.

Breeding and Nesting

Flame-colored Tanager: Two to five green to blue eggs with gray and brown speckles are laid in a cup nest made of sticks, conifer needles, rootlets, and grass, and lined with finer materials. Nest is built on a tree branch 15 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Flame-colored Tanager: Feeds on insects and fruits. Forages from middle to high levels in trees; gleans insects from branches and foliage.

Vocalization

Flame-colored Tanager: Song is a series of vireo-like phrases, "chick-churee-chuwee." Call is hard, rolled "pr-reck."

Similar Species

Flame-colored Tanager: Western Tanager has yellow body, red head, and pink-yellow bill.