The Rufous-capped Tanager (Hemithraupis ruficapilla) is a bird with an olive-green upper body and yellow-colored rump. Its head is a pale rufous that gradually turns to cinnamon on the chest. It has yellow patches behind the ear feathers. The underside of the bird is gray, with the belly area featuring a yellow hue. The female closely resembles the male, but her upper body is olive-green, and her chest is yellow. The female’s coloration makes it indistinguishable from the female Guira Tanager.
These birds are found exclusively in the southeastern region of Brazil, where they inhabit humid lowland forests, as well as secondary forests and plantations. They can be found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,500 meters. As omnivores, Rufous-capped Tanagers primarily feed on small insects and native fruits, mostly in the canopy and higher layers of the forest.
During the breeding season, the male displays the vibrant parts of its plumage. A female has been observed carrying nesting material into a small opening in a hanging cluster of Tillandsia in October. However, there is limited information available about the breeding habits of this species. The Rufous-capped Tanager is considered endangered, as it is only found in a single, specific habitat.
