These birds like to reside in secondary-growth and plantations as well as moist lowland forests. They are located between sea level and 1500 m.

The rufous-headed tanager is an omnivorous bird that prefers to feed on natural fruits and tiny insects in the canopy and higher parts of the forest.

The male exhibits the vividly coloured parts of his plumage during the mating season. In October, a female was spotted putting nesting materials into a tiny hole in a cluster of Tillandsia that was hanging down. Apart than that, not much is known about this species’ mating practises.

This bird is recognised as being at risk in its sole habitat.