Flame head
| Flame head | ||||||||||||
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Flame head ( Oxyruncus cristatus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Oxyruncus cristatus | ||||||||||||
| Swainson , 1821 |
The flame head ( Oxyruncus cristatus ) is a screeching bird and the only member of the flame head family. Some experts count the bird among the families of ornamental birds or tyrants .
features
The 17 cm long flame head has an erect orange head that is not visible when laid down. It is also characterized by an orange iris, a black spotted yellowish underside, a scaly face and a pointed beak.
Occurrence
The flame head occurs scattered from Costa Rica to Peru and Uruguay . It is a bird of the rainforest that lives in the treetops or in the trees of the forest edge.
behavior
The flame head lives alone or in mixed groups. It skillfully clings to branches for food such as small fruits, insects and other invertebrates.
Reproduction
The males gather for common courtship rituals at special dance locations (leks). A shallow shell nest is built in the forks of trees.
Web links
- English website with photos
- English PDF document that classifies the flame head as a decorative bird (488 kB)
- Oxyruncus cristatus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on December 23 of 2008.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Oxyruncus cristatus in the Internet Bird Collection