| Crested ant tanager | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Cardinalidae |
| Genus: | Driophlox |
| Species: | D. cristata |
| Binomial name | |
| Driophlox cristata (Lawrence, 1875) | |
 | |
The crested ant tanager (Driophlox cristata) is a bird in the family Cardinalidae that is endemic to Colombia. It was formerly placed with the red-crowned ant tanager in the genus Habia. [2]
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. [3] The crested ant tanager is monotypic. [2]
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. [3]
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). [3]
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. [3]
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. [3]
The crested ant-tanager's dawn song is repeated "che'ik" notes . It mobs with a "loud, shrill 'Chi-veek!'" . [3]
The IUCN has assessed the crested ant-tanager as being of Least Concern. [1] It occurs in several protected areas, but "numbers are undoubtedly declining; it has experienced considerable range contraction and fragmentation because of deforestation, and should probably be regarded as being at risk in the near future." [3]
Cardinalidae is a family of New World-endemic passerine birds that consists of cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. It also includes several other genera such as the tanager-like Piranga and the warbler-like Granatellus. Membership of this family is not easily defined by a single or even a set of physical characteristics, but instead by molecular work. Among songbirds, they range from average-sized to relatively large, and have stout features, some species with large, heavy bills.
The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.
The yellow-billed cardinal is a bird species in the tanager family (Thraupidae). It is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).
The red-crowned ant tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird from tropical America. It is the only species now placed in the genus Habia. This species was long placed with the tanagers (Thraupidae), but it is actually closer to the cardinals (Cardinalidae).
The red-throated ant tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird. This species is a resident breeder on the Caribbean slopes from southeastern Mexico to eastern Panama. It was formerly placed with the red-crowned ant tanager in the genus Habia. It was usually considered an aberrant kind of tanager and placed in the Thraupidae, but is actually closer to the cardinals (Cardinalidae). Consequently, it can be argued that referring to the members of this genus as ant tanagers is misleading, but no other common name has gained usage.
The hepatic tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), it and other members of the genus Piranga are now classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae).
The red-crested cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae that can be found in Columbia, Sierra de Perija, and Andes from Venezuela, and Colombia to Bolivia. An adult red-crested cotinga is gray with a white tail a white bill base and a tuft of red feathers. The red-crested Cotinga can be found in a cloud forest on a treeline and pairs in small groups. The main diet consists of fruits and sometimes insects. The species is not threatened globally and is fairly common in its native regions.
The gold-ringed tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, endemic to Colombia. It is a plump, relatively short-tailed Tanager with a distinctive gold ring around its face. It inhabits a narrow band of high-altitude cloud forest on the slopes of the western cordillera of the Andes, where it survives on a diet of fruit and insects. The bird is found in small numbers within a limited geographical area, and much of its breeding biology has yet to be described. It is considered a vulnerable species, threatened by habitat loss.
Carmiol's tanager is a species of bird in the cardinal family Cardinalidae that is found in Central America from Nicaragua southwards to northwest Colombia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. It was formerly considered as conspecific with the yellow-lored tanager.
The ochre-breasted tanager is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador where its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. As a fairly common species with a stable population, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this bird as being of "least concern".
The black-cheeked ant tanager is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is endemic to Costa Rica. It was formerly placed with the red-crowned ant tanager in the genus Habia.
The sooty ant tanager is a species of bird in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It was formerly placed with the true tanagers in the family Thraupidae and was assigned to the genus Habia with the red-crowned ant tanager.
The red-crested cardinal is a passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. Notwithstanding its similar name, this bird is not closely related to the true cardinal family Cardinalidae. It is sometimes known as the Brazilian cardinal.
The white-winged tanager is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found from Mexico, through Central America, across northern South America and as far south as Bolivia.
The rose-throated tanager is a medium-sized songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. Endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula in Central America, it is found in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. The male has greyish plumage with a deep rose throat and crown, while the female is similar but for a yellow crown and throat.
The red-hooded tanager, is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The flame-crested tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Ten subspecies are currently recognized.
The bar-crested antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Farallones de Cali is a cluster of mountains in the West Andes of Colombia. It is located west of the city of Cali and gives rise to many of the rivers that provide water and electricity to Cali. The PNN Farallones de Cali encompasses 150,000 ha (580 sq mi) in the mountains as well as much of the Pacific slope and is an area of very high biodiversity. The average temperature ranges from 25 °C (77 °F) in the tropical foothills to 5 °C (41 °F) in the páramo. In this territory are located the district of Pichinde, Andes and Leonera, and two villages Penas Blancas and Lomas de la Cajita.
Driophlox is a genus of passerine birds in the family Cardinalidae. The four species placed in this genus were formerly placed with the red-crowned ant tanager in the genus Habia.
