Crested Ant-Tanager
Driophlox cristata
Unmistakable; dull red tanager with grayer flanks and obvious bright red crest. Sexes similar; males have longer crest. Found in pairs or small flocks in the understory, often in dense thickets or vine tangles. Sometimes follows mixed-species flocks. Uncommon in foothills in western Colombia.
Identification
The crested ant tanager is approximately 19 cm (7.5 in) long. The male's head is dusky red with a prominent scarlet crest. The rest of the upper parts fade from red on the shoulders through dark crimson to brownish red at the rump. The throat and chest are bright red and the rest of the underparts gray, some with a red tinge. The female is similar though duller and with less gray, and its crest is smaller. The immature does not have a crest; it is reddish brown above and cinnamon below.
Taxonomy
The crested ant tanager was originally placed in family Thraupidae, the "true" tanagers. In the early 2000s, DNA analysis revealed that all the members of Habia were more closely related to the cardinals, so they were moved to family Cardinalidae. <p>The crested ant tanager is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Driophlox cristata
- Authority
- (Lawrence, 1875)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Driophlox
Range and habitat
The crested ant tanager is found on both slopes of Colombia's Western Andes, from Antioquia Department south to Cerro Munchique in Cauca Department, and on both slopes of the Central Andes from Antioquia to Tolima Department. It inhabits the understorey of humid mid-level and montane forest. It favors dense vegetation, especially along streams, around openings such as landslides, and in ravines. It is occasionally found in more open areas. In elevation it ranges from 700 to 2,000 m (2,300 to 6,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The crested ant-tanager's diet is mostly insects and other arthropods, but it also eats palm seeds and other fruits. It forages through the undergrowth in pairs or small groups and sometimes sallies out to catch flying insects. Groups have been observed following army ant swarms.<p>One crested ant-tanager was observed carrying nesting material in a ravine in June; it was accompanied by two others. No other information on its breeding phenology has been published.<p>The crested ant-tanager's dawn song is repeated "che'ik" notes [1]. It mobs with a "loud, shrill 'Chi-veek!'" [2].
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Japanese Thrush
Turdus cardis
Elusive thrush, seldom seen far from cover. Favors well-shaded streamsides, gullies, and valleys in broadleaf hill forests during the breeding season, but can be found in sparser habitats in the non-breeding season. Adult male sharply marked and beautiful if seen well, combining coal-black upperparts with a snow-white belly punctuated with dark speckles. Immature male gray above, belly tinged orange. Female medium brown above with white underparts marked with both dark speckles and an orange suffusion; can be confused with female Gray-backed Thrush, but dark markings in Japanese extend to lower belly (restricted to the throat in Gray-backed). Rich, lengthy song often very repetitive.
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Medium-sized green lorikeet with yellow ‘scales’ on the breast. Note bright red bill and orange-red underwings. Much shorter-tailed than Rainbow Lorikeet. Typically occurs in woodland habitats in eastern Australia, but is also present in parks and gardens. Call is similar to Rainbow Lorikeet, but smoother and less squawky.
Firethroat
Calliope pectardens
Male is stunning, with a metallic blue back, a black mask extending down to the shoulder, and a burning flame-orange throat and breast. Female is plain brown and very difficult to distinguish from female Indian Blue Robin (which generally breeds at lower altitudes than Firethroat) and Siberian Blue Robin (which overlaps with Firethroat only on migration); look out for the female Firethroat’s relatively brighter white throat, darker underparts, and lack of scaling on the breast. The species is shy, keeping to the undergrowth, but will emerge into the open to sing; song is repetitive and pleasant, with imitations and deeper notes thrown in. Breeds in dense, low montane vegetation; winters in similar habitat in lower foothills.
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