Red-ruffed Fruitcrow
	Pyroderus scutatus scutatus (G.R. Gray)

The Red-ruffed fruit crow inhabits areas peripheral to the Amazonian basin in South America. There are five subspecies of the Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, or the Indian Crow, as the bird is called by fly tiers, and the throat and ruff feathers from these different subspecies can be used interchangeably in fly tying. However, inspection of numerous antique salmon flies reveals that feathers from only three species were used with any consistency: P.s. granadensis (most often), P.s. orenocensis (common), and P.s. scutatus.

In all five subspecies, the base of each red breast feather is black, but it is possible to differentiate each subspecies on the basis of feather shape and degree of coloration. For example, throat and breast feathers from P.s. granadensis and P.s. scutatus are tipped with a red fringe that merges into a reddish orange partially down the stem, however, in P.s. granadensis feathers, the red fringe is narrower, the tips tend to be crimped, and the stems darker than those of P.s. scutatus. Breast feathers from P.s. orenocensis are similar to those of P.s. granadensis, but the center portion of each feather tends to be an orangish-brown. Breast feathers from P.s. occidentalis have red fringes also, but they are not very bright and the center portion of each feather is a dull orange brown. Finally, breast feathers from P.s. masoni can be distinguished from the other species by their crimson or blood-red tips.

In regards to fly tying, V.C. (1950) writes: "The tag from the breast of this bird, of a brilliant fiery orange,is much used for grayling flies. It sets and wears well, and keeps its colour." Examples of grayling flies are Dean's Fancy and Brunton's Fancy (Veniard 1952) and the Red Tag (Pritt 1888). Hale (1892) notes that "the Red Breasted Crow (Pyroderus Granadensis), from New Granada, known to fly-makers as the 'Indian Crow,' supplies us with brilliant scarlet feathers, used whole in wings, tails, and jointed bodies; these feathers are on the breast of the bird only. The remainder is black. The feathers of the back of the neck are used whole in jointed bodies." The Black Prince is the only fly which uses the black feathers from the nape of the Indian crow as body veilings. Salmon flies that use the red breast feathers from the Indian Crow include the Blue Goldfinch (tail, wing and cheeks), Bo Peep, Rouge-et-Noir, Lapwing, Carnegie (body veiling), Black Goldfinch, Green Mixture, Red Sandy (tail and wing), Chatterer (wing), Lady Bell, Widgeon (tail and cheeks), Black and Orange, and Wilson (cheeks).

If you want to know more about the red-ruffed fruit crow and other birds related to our fly tying heritage, we suggest you order Rare and Unusual Fly Tying Materials: A Natural History.