Green-headed Tanager, a Jewel of the Atlantic Forest
- Leonardo Merçon
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
It’s impossible to forget a Green-headed Tanager once you’ve seen one. Small, vibrant, almost magical. With so many dazzling colors, its name feels almost modest. To me, it’s one of the most iconic birds of the Atlantic Forest and a true symbol of Espírito Santo’s natural beauty.
The Colors of the Atlantic Forest
Over my 20 years photographing the biodiversity of Espírito Santo, I’ve grown used to spotting the Green-headed Tanager. They show up in forest fragments, woodland edges, gardens, farms, backyards with fruit trees, and sometimes right outside the window. Never alone — always in delightful little flocks, which makes the experience of finding them even more intense.
It’s easy to recognize them: a turquoise-blue head, golden-yellow nape over black, a light blue chest, and wings streaked with black, yellow, and metallic blue. A true parade of colors that defies precise description. Try to describe it yourself and you’ll see what I mean. I even challenge you to try it in the comments!
Beyond the colors, their curiosity and lack of fear toward humans make them even more special. Once, I left a sliced apple on the table and, when I came back, one of these bold little birds was delicately pecking at it. I hadn’t even served myself yet, but I considered that half an apple well spent.
More Than Just Beauty
Yes, the Green-headed Tanager is stunning, but it’s not just a “pretty face.” They play a crucial ecological role as seed dispersers — being frugivores, they help forests stay alive. But their menu is diverse: besides fruits, they also feed on small insects, helping to control pests and keeping ecosystems in balance.
Their frequent presence in areas with relatively well-preserved vegetation also makes them an important environmental indicator. Where there are Green-headed Tanagers, there’s hope for healthy forests — as long as we choose to protect them.
A Natural Symbol of Espírito Santo
This remarkable species occurs along nearly the entire range of the Atlantic Forest, from Rio Grande do Sul to Bahia. But here in Espírito Santo, I see them more often and more vividly. Whether on the coast or in the highland forests, they’re always nearby — lively, restless, always in flocks, hopping from branch to branch in search of food, with their high-pitched, delicate calls.
If I had to choose a species that represents our beauty, biodiversity, and connection with nature, the Green-headed Tanager would be one of my top candidates. Few birds are so easy to spot, so visually striking, and so beloved by the public. Even after years of birding, I never get tired of photographing them. And, of course, their beauty always helps the photos shine.
The Enchantment of Photographing Tanagers
Photographing this bird is always a delightful challenge. It rarely stays perched for long, constantly in motion. But when the lens captures the right moment — the light shining on the turquoise head, or that instant when it stares straight into the camera — it feels like capturing a frame of the Atlantic Forest’s very essence.
The images I share in this story were all taken here in Espírito Santo. Some deep in the forest, others almost in the city. They are a visual reminder that beauty is still alive and close — all we need is to open our eyes.
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Nature photographer and cinematographer, founder of Instituto Últimos Refúgios, Master in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development, passionate about the environment! Join me on this incredible journey of wildlife discoveries and see more beautiful stories as I constantly explore nature.
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