Cinnamon Tanager
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Quick Facts
- Scientific Name: Schistochlamys ruficapillus
- Spanish Name: Tangara canela
- Family: Thraupidae
- Known Nicknames: Cinnamon-bellied Tanager, Cinnamon Tanager
- Average Length: 18–19 cm / 7.1–7.5 in
- Average Weight: 35–45 g / 1.2–1.6 oz
- Wingspan: 25–30 cm / 9.8–11.8 in
- Key Feature: Rich cinnamon-rufous underparts contrasting with slate-gray upperparts and black face mask
- Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore and Insectivore
- Range: Eastern and central Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
- Habitat: Cerrado savanna, scrublands, woodland edges, and gallery forests
- Social Structure: Usually seen in pairs or small family groups
- Nesting/Breeding: Open cup-shaped nest placed in a fork of a bush or low tree
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Population Trend: Stable
The Cinnamon Tanager (*Schistochlamys ruficapillus*) is a striking yet elusive songbird native to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, distinguished by its warm, earthy palette and unique foraging behavior. True to its name, the adult male boasts a rich cinnamon-rufous head and throat that sharply contrasts with its slate-gray body, while females and juveniles are more subdued with olive-brown tones and a paler rufous cap. A special feature of this species is its strong, slightly curved bill, adapted for a diet that includes both fruit and large insects, which it often gleans from tree bark like a woodcreeper. Unlike many tanagers that frequent open canopies, the Cinnamon Tanager is a shy denizen of dense undergrowth and forest edges, making its soft, whistled calls a more common sign of its presence than a clear sighting. Its restricted range and habitat loss have made it a sought-after target for birdwatchers, adding an air of rarity to its already captivating appearance.
Fun Facts
Despite its name, the Cinnamon Tanager’s “cinnamon” coloration is actually a rare and unstable pigment—juveniles are dull olive, and only mature males develop the rich reddish-brown head, which can fade to a muddy brown during non-breeding seasons. They are notorious for a quirky “leaf-flipping” foraging behavior, using their stout bills to pry up dead leaves on the forest floor like tiny bulldozers, often hanging upside-down to inspect the undersides. Uniquely, they produce a surprisingly loud, metallic “tink” call that mimics the sound of a snapping twig, likely to startle insects into movement. When threatened, they freeze completely still, relying on their cryptic plumage to blend into the dappled understory, a tactic so effective that researchers sometimes lose sight of them just meters away.
Habitats & Distribution
The Cinnamon Tanager is found in eastern and south-central Brazil, with its range extending into adjacent northeastern Paraguay and northern Argentina. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open environments, including cerrado savanna, caatinga scrub, dry woodlands, and the edges of gallery forests. It is also common in disturbed areas such as agricultural clearings, pastures with scattered trees, and second-growth thickets, typically avoiding dense, humid rainforest interiors.
Behaviours & Reproduction
The Cinnamon Tanager is typically observed in pairs or small family groups, suggesting a monogamous social structure. During the breeding season, which varies by region but often aligns with the rainy season, the male performs a courtship display involving fluffed plumage, wing quivering, and short, melodic songs to attract a mate. The pair collaboratively builds a cup-shaped nest from plant fibers and spiderwebs, usually placed in a tree fork. The female lays a clutch of two to three eggs, which she incubates alone for about 13 to 14 days, while the male defends the territory and brings food. After hatching, both parents share feeding duties, and fledglings leave the nest after roughly two weeks. A unique reproductive strategy is the occasional use of abandoned nests from other bird species, which reduces construction effort and predation risk.
Diet
The Cinnamon Tanager is primarily frugivorous, with its diet centered on a variety of small, soft fruits and berries, often plucked directly from trees and shrubs. It is also known to supplement this fruit intake with insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and other small arthropods, which it actively gleans from foliage and branches. An interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is that it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, allowing it to benefit from the disturbance of insects caused by other birds. During the breeding season, the proportion of insects in its diet increases significantly to provide high-protein food for its chicks.
Colors
The Cinnamon Tanager has a mostly uniform cinnamon-rufous head, throat, and underparts, contrasting with slate-gray upperparts, wings, and tail. Its bill is thick and black, and it lacks bold markings or streaks, giving it a soft, plain appearance. This muted, earthy coloration likely provides camouflage among the dappled light and foliage of its forest-edge and savanna habitats.
Distribution Map
Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.
