Flame-colored Tanager Identification

Overview
ID info
Life History
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Identification
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Flame-colored Tanager Photos and Videos

Male

A medium-sized songbird with two strong white wingbars, a heavily streaked back, large white spots on the tips of the tertials (innermost flight feathers), a blackish ear patch, and a heavy bill. Male head and underpart color ranges from orange to red.

Female

Female shares many field marks with adult male (white wingbars, white tertial tips, streaked back, and blackish ear patch), but is yellowish overall, with a hint of orange on the crown.

Adult male

A medium-sized songbird with a heavy bill, blackish ear patch behind the eye, and two large white wingbars on dark wings. Male head and underpart color ranges from orange to bright red.

Male

Adult males in western Mexico are consistently orange on the face and belly, while males elsewhere vary from red to orange-red.

Female/immature male

Female and immature male are similar in appearance, with yellow underparts and head and a dark ear patch. Immature male often has some orange-red splotches on the head and underparts.

Adult female

Female has yellow underparts and head, two white wingbars, and a dark ear patch behind the eye.

Female

Visits feeding stations with fresh fruit. In natural settings, feeds mostly on insects and berries.

Male

Adult males from eastern Mexico to Panama range in color from bright red to orange-red.

Adult male

Song is a series of 2–6 burry, vireolike notes with long pauses between songs.

Habitat

Typically found high in trees in mountain forests, coffee plantations, gardens, or shady pastures.

Adult male

Typically occurs high in trees in mountain forest. Common call is a strong, rolled series of three notes.

See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

Compare with Similar Species

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Western Tanager

White-winged TanagerMale

White-winged TanagerFemale

Yellow Grosbeak

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Identification

Fairly common in oak and pine-evergreen forests in foothills and highlands; a few descend in winter to lowlands of west Mexico. Forages mainly at middle to upper levels where often quiet and overlooked easily. Note the bold white wingbars, big white tertial and tail spots, and dark streaks on back. Male flame-orange in west Mexico and deeper orange-red in east Mexico and Central America. Female told from female Western Tanager by gray bill, bolder white wing markings, and streaked back. Calls and song very like Western Tanager.

Relative Size

About the same size as a Western Tanager.

Size chart showing sparrow to goose sized

between sparrow and robin

Measurements

Both Sexes
- Length: 7.1-7.5 in (18-19 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.7 oz (32-48.4 g)

Regional Differences

Male Flame-colored Tanagers throughout most of the range are red to orange-red. Males in western Mexico, though, are more orange, especially on the face and belly.