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Rufous-chested Tanager Thlypopsis ornata Scientific name definitions

Steven Hilty
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2011

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Introduction

The Rufous-chested Tanager is a range restricted species found locally in dense shrubbery, thickets, and forest edge habitats of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. There are currently three recognized subspecies, some of which appear to be geographically isolated. Foraging mainly for insects, the Rufous-chested Tanager can be found in small groups and occasionally in mixed species foraging flocks. While foraging, this species will glean restlessly in low to mid-levels of trees, occasionally foraging into the canopy. Deforestation and habitat conversion are the main threats to this species, which used to inhabit a much larger range. Despite this, the Rufous-chested Tanager's population is believed to be stable and has not been placed on any threatened species lists.

Field Identification

12–13 cm; 10–15 g. Small, thin-billed greyish tanager with rich rufous head and underparts. Male nominate race has entire head and throat to mid-breast, sides, flanks and undertail-coverts deep orange-rufous, richest on crown, slightly paler on throat; centre of lower breast and belly white; upper­parts, including uppertail-coverts, tail and upperwing-coverts, uniformly brownish-grey, mantle contrasting sharply with orange-rufous of head; primary coverts dusky, flight-feathers dusky, edged dull grey; iris dark brown; bill dusky; legs dark grey. Female is similar to male, but paler, more olive, on crown and nape (little contrast with back), and paler below, especially on throat. Immature is overall paler and duller, looking much like a dull female. Race media differs from nominate mainly in slightly larger size; macropteryx also differs in slightly larger size, as well as darker crown, deeper and richer colour on throat and breast, and more extensively white belly.

Systematics History

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Sister to T. pectoralis; the two have been considered conspecific, but exhibit “levels of sequence divergence similar to what is expected between well-differentiated species” (1) and in any case are locally sympatric in C Peru (2). Subespecific affinity of an old specimen from El Pun (E Carchi, N Ecuador) remains uncertain (3). Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies

SUBSPECIES

Thlypopsis ornata ornata Scientific name definitions

Distribution

W slope of C Andes in Colombia (from Puracé, in Cauca) S locally in Ecuador (both slopes, and locally on slopes above C valley).
SUBSPECIES

Thlypopsis ornata media Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E slope of Andes in extreme S Ecuador (Taraguacocha in El Oro, Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe) and Peru (S on W slope to Lima; locally E slope from Cajamarca S to Marañón Valley).
SUBSPECIES

Thlypopsis ornata macropteryx Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E slope of Andes in Peru (Junín; isolated records S to Cuzco).

Distribution

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Habitat

Shrubby montane-forest borders, especially scrubby or drier secondary montane woodland, patches of second growth away from forest, and wooded ravines; rarely, Polylepis woodland. In general scarce or absent in humid or wet regions. At 2000–3400 m in Colombia, but most records c. 2400–3000 m; in Ecuador mostly 1800–3000 m, but possibly once as low as 1200 m; in Peru 1600–3300 m, locally to 3800 m, on E Andean slope.

Movement

Apparently resident.

Diet and Foraging

Insects; six stomachs contained animal matter, including beetles (Coleoptera), spiders (Araneae) and a caterpillar. Single birds, pairs, and families of 3–4 and more rarely up to 8 individuals forage alone or sometimes in association with mixed-species flocks. Restless and active as it moves through along branches and foliage, from below eye level up to canopy of low scrubby trees. Gleans insects from leaves, twigs, and arboreal dead leaves, also inspects flowers and occasionally hangs upside-down. Has been seen to probe Diglossa incisions in tubular flower corollas.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song, infrequently heard (or not often recognized), is thin, high-pitched and apparently somewhat variable, in simplest form a sibilant “ti, ti, ti sib’bit-sib’bit-sib’bit-sib’bit se-bee”, rising slightly at end, or ending may include complex jumble of notes, or may end in thin slightly rising trill. Some songs may be delivered as duet, second bird giving high chipping notes. Extent and frequency of song repertoire in this species (and congeners) not well understood. During foraging gives very high-pitched, thin “seek” notes.

Breeding

In Ecuador, egg-laying noted on 1st Mar, fledglings mid-Mar, and nest-building at end Apr, suggesting breeding season from at least end Feb to end May, also active nests found in Mar–Apr in SW (Yungilla Valley, in Azuay) and juvenile in Mar in NW. Following details mainly from Azuay. Nest a small open cup, outside diameter c. 8·5 cm and depth 7·5 cm, made from coarse grass, narrow bamboo leaf blades, twigs and petioles, with fine pale grass and petioles tightly woven on inside of cup, placed c. 0·4–1·2 m above ground in grass or young second-growth bush in semi-open area. Clutch 2 eggs, white with red-brown blotches and streaks; no information on incubation and nestling periods.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Uncommon and rather local. Local in Colombia, and in Ecuador apparently more numerous in S. Tolerates highly degraded second growth and scrub, even along steep ravines, but near-complete deforestation and conversion to pastureland of much of this species’ formerly wooded range poses a significant long-term risk. There are few protected areas within its range in Colombia.
Distribution of the Rufous-chested Tanager - Range Map
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Distribution of the Rufous-chested Tanager

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Hilty, S. (2020). Rufous-chested Tanager (Thlypopsis ornata), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.ructan3.01
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