Flame-faced Tanager

The Flame-faced Tanager (Tangara parzudakii) is a medium-sized songbird renowned for its vibrant and complex plumage. This species is native to the humid montane forests and cloud forests of the Andes, stretching from Venezuela to Peru. Its most defining feature is its 'flame-faced' appearance—a deep red forecrown and face that transitions into a brilliant yellow nape, creating a sharp contrast with its black auriculars and back.

• Its upperparts are predominantly black with opalescent green highlights on the mantle and rump.
• The underparts are an elegant mix of opalescent green and buff, with a pale cinnamon-colored belly.
• It is a social bird, frequently observed in the company of other tanager species in mixed-species foraging flocks.

In the Mindo region of Ecuador, these birds are a common sight for birdwatchers in the cloud forest canopy. They are highly active and spend a significant portion of their time searching for fruits like Miconia and gleaning insects from mossy branches.