Flame-faced Tanager Tangara parzudakii Scientific name definitions

The Flame-faced Tanager is one of the most spectacular members of the diverse and exceptionally colorful genus Tangara. Living up to its common name, the forehead begins as a deep glimmering red, shading into a brilliant yellow on the nape and sides of the head. This "flame" contrasts sharply with the jet black back. The Flame-faced Tanager is a common member in mixed species foraging flocks in the canopy of humid montane forest from the Andes of extreme southwest Venezuela south to central Peru. It  forages exclusively along mossy branches and occasionally peering at the underside in search of arthropods. There are three subspecies of the Flame-faced Tanager, described based mostly on minor differences in plumage. The species is typically found from 1000-2600 m and is most numerous above 1500 m. The IUCN Red list assesses the Flame-faced Tanager as a species of Least Concern; however,  the population size is declining due to habitat destruction. Thus, the Flame-faced Tanager should become the focus of future studies.