Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata)

IMG_9691a IMG_9798The Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) is a neotropical species that inhabits humid forest and forest edges. It belongs to the speciose genus Tangara and is often considered to belong to a superspecies with the Masked Tanager (Tangara nigrocincta) and Blue-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis).

This tanager is a resident breeder from southern Mexico south to western Ecuador.  Some of the easiest places to see this beautiful little tanager is at Selva Verde Lodge & Laguna del Lagarto Lodge in Costa Rica.  Use an award to Central America to get to San Jose.  The lodges can organize a private shuttle or you can use the local buses to get there.  They are also frequently seen in Soberania National Park in Panama as the video clips below show.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS BIRD

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Selva Verde

VIDEOS

This is an adorable video of a baby Golden-hooded Tanager fledging.  I love how he works up his courage, then takes off!

This adult is preening, perhaps getting ready for his close-up!

Here’s a hungry little guy!