Thlypopsis ornata
The Rufous-chested Tanager (*Thlypopsis ornata*) is a strikingly colored, small passerine bird endemic to the Andean cloud forests of South America. Measuring typically 12-13.5 cm (4.7-5.3 in) in length and weighing 14-18 grams, its most distinctive feature is its vibrant rufous-orange breast and belly, which contrasts sharply with its slate-gray head and nape. The back and wings are a rich olive-green, and it sports a white vent and dark eyes, making it an unmistakable species in its range. ...
Inhabits humid montane evergreen forests, cloud forest edges, and secondary growth with scattered trees, primarily at elevations between 1,500 and 2,700 meters (4,900-8,900 ft).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on caterpillars, beetles, and other arthropods gleaned from vegetation, supplemented with small fruits and berries.
This diurnal species is an active forager, often observed alone, in pairs, or more frequently, as a member of mixed-species foraging flocks alongside other tanagers, warblers, and ovenbirds. It primarily gleans insects from foliage, branches, and epiphytes, meticulously searching for arthropods h...
The Rufous-chested Tanager is endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America, with a broad distribution spanning from southern Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, and extending south into central Bolivia. In Colombia, it is found in the western and central Andes, while in Ecuador, it occupies bo...
Least Concern
- Its vivid rufous-orange chest is one of the brightest among high-altitude tanagers in the Andes, making it quite eye-catching. - Often joins large, mixed-species foraging flocks, a common strategy in tropical forests to increase foraging efficiency and predator detection. - Despite its striking...