Flame-colored Tanager Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesFlame-colored Tanager
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.
© Blair Dudeck / Macaulay LibrarySan José, November 25, 2018Female
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.
© Scott Olmstead / Macaulay LibrarySan José, July 16, 2016Adult 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.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibrarySan José, October 01, 2022Male
Adult males in western Mexico are consistently orange on the face and belly, while males elsewhere vary from red to orange-red.
© Daniel Garza Tobón / Macaulay LibraryNayarit, June 22, 2023Female/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.
© Ken Langelier / Macaulay LibrarySan José, December 03, 2016Adult female
Female has yellow underparts and head, two white wingbars, and a dark ear patch behind the eye.
© Tyler Wenzel / Macaulay LibrarySan José, April 19, 2023Female
Visits feeding stations with fresh fruit. In natural settings, feeds mostly on insects and berries.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibrarySan José, March 15, 2007Male
Adult males from eastern Mexico to Panama range in color from bright red to orange-red.
© Charles Thomas / Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, March 16, 2024Adult male
Song is a series of 2–6 burry, vireolike notes with long pauses between songs.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 09, 2006Habitat
Typically found high in trees in mountain forests, coffee plantations, gardens, or shady pastures.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibrarySan José, October 01, 2022Adult male
Typically occurs high in trees in mountain forest. Common call is a strong, rolled series of three notes.
© Micah Riegner / Macaulay LibrarySonora, December 16, 2023Similar SpeciesWestern Tanager
Female
Female Western Tanager lacks Flame-colored Tanager’s bold white wingbars and white tips to the tertials (innermost flight feathers), has less streaked upperparts, lacks a dark ear patch, and has a lighter-colored bill.
© Jeff Dyck / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, May 17, 2024Similar SpeciesWhite-winged Tanager
Male
Male White-winged Tanager has a black mask around the eye, unstreaked bright red upperparts, and lacks white markings on the tertials and tail.
© Daniel Aldana | Ornis Birding Expeditions / Macaulay LibraryPetén, January 30, 2019Similar SpeciesWhite-winged Tanager
Female
Female White-winged Tanager has a dusky mask between the bill and eye, unstreaked upperparts, and grayish wings and tail. Female White-winged Tanager also lacks Flame-colored’s blackish ear patch and white spots on the tertials.
© Juan Miguel Artigas Azas / Macaulay LibrarySan Luis Potosí, February 29, 2020Similar SpeciesYellow Grosbeak
Female (Northern)
Female Yellow Grosbeak has an enormous bill and thinner white wingbars than female Flame-colored Tanager.
© Pam Rasmussen / Macaulay LibrarySinaloa, March 10, 2016Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Cardinals and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Cardinalidae)
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