This is the paradise tanager, or siete colores (seven colors) as it is known in South America. Its bright green mask could have been the inspiration for the Green Lantern costume ...or maybe not. This lovely bird nests in the upper reaches of the rainforest canopy in the Amazon basin. That might explain some of its coloring- the several shades of blue on its belly would resemble the sky from below, and its black back would camouflage it against the trees when seen from above. Its tail is either yellow or red. But why the green face? maybe so paradise tanagers can see and recognize each other.
At any rate, it works for the tanager. Their populations are stable across the six nations it calls home. Unlike many bird species, the female is just as colorful as the male. Read more about this lovely bird and see more pictures at The Ark in Space.
(Image credit: Flickr user Nathan Rupert)
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