Chlorophonia cyanea
The Blue-naped Chlorophonia (*Chlorophonia cyanea*) is a captivating member of the finch family (Fringillidae), renowned for its dazzling, jewel-toned plumage. Males are particularly striking, sporting vibrant emerald-green upperparts, a brilliant yellow forehead patch, and a distinctive sky-blue nape band that wraps around the neck. Their underparts are a vivid yellow, fading to green on the flanks. Females are similarly green but feature a less extensive and duller blue nape, and less promi...
Found in humid tropical and subtropical montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, typically at elevations between 800 and 2500 meters, though occasionally lower.
Primarily frugivorous, with a strong preference for small berries, especially those of mistletoe species (*Psittacanthus*, *Phoradendron*). They occasionally supplement their diet with small insects.
Blue-naped Chlorophonias are diurnal and predominantly arboreal, spending most of their time high in the forest canopy. They forage actively for fruits, often hanging upside down to pluck berries, and are frequently observed joining mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other small tan...
The Blue-naped Chlorophonia boasts a wide, disjunct distribution across Mesoamerica and South America, primarily as a resident species. In Central America, it ranges from southern Mexico (Chiapas) south through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Its South American dis...
Least Concern
- The Blue-naped Chlorophonia's incredibly bright blue and green plumage makes it one of the most vividly colored birds in the Neotropics. - Despite its striking colors, its small size and canopy-dwelling habits often make it surprisingly difficult to spot in the dense forest foliage. - These bir...