One of the most beautiful species of tanager found in Costa Rica is the Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata), also known as Tangara Capuchidorada in Spanish.

Male Golden-hooded Tanagers are black with white underparts, a golden, blue-edged hood, a black mask, and a turquoise-blue rump and shoulders.

The females are duller and more greenish in color. Golden-hooded Tanagers are usually found in sunlit areas at the forest edge and in the upper forest canopy, where they can be seen feeding on both fruit and insects.

I was waiting near a blooming hibiscus to photograph an elusive hummingbird, when this male Golden-hooded Tanager suddenly flew up and landed on a branch of the hibiscus. I was thrilled to see this beautiful bird and was able to get several photos of him. Of course, as I was photographing the Golden-hooded Tanager, the hummingbird returned. I heard the humming of its wings and the Golden-hooded Tanager glanced up at it, but the uncooperative hummingbird was gone before I could get a photo of it.

I never did get a decent photo of that hummingbird, but I was even happier to have photographed this beautiful Golden-hooded Tanager instead.