Flame-crested Tanager Loriotus cristatus Scientific name definitions

A boldly patterned tanager, the Flame-crested Tanager is widespread throughout much of the Amazon Basin, with a disjunct population in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. It occurs primarily in lowland tropical evergreen forest, but can also be found in more open woodland and forest edges in eastern Brazil. As such a widespread species, it exhibits extensive geographic variation, with 9 recognized subspecies that vary most notably in size and crest color (yellow to red). They feed mostly on invertebrates, and are often members of large mixed species foraging flocks that feed high in the canopy, which may include other tanagers, antbirds, flycatchers, and barbets.