Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

The Blue-gray Tanager has mostly light-blue body and metallic blue wings, which can glow strongly under flash. It can be found almost throughout the entire country, specially in the lowlands, accompanied by Scarlet-rumped and Palm Tanagers, which have a very similar body shape, but very different colors. All three species will readily come to fruit feeders. It’s local name is “Viudita”, which literally means “Little Widow”. A bird species does not have to be rare to be a beauty, and the proof is in Blue-gray Tanagers. We see them daily at our gardens in Costa Rica, yet their metallic blue wings are a wonder to watch.