Trinidad: Blue-gray Tanager - Thraupis episcopus

Continuing with the Tanager family we have the delightful Blue-gray Tanager, a large (7.5") tanager in the genusTraupis. The Blue-gray is a common bird, seen often throughout the tropics. The bird here is the supspecies Thraupis episcopus nesophilus, with a range down to northern Brazil. There are 12 other subspecies of the Blue-gray in Central and South America, and 6 other species in the Thraupis genus.

I'll quickly forget the taxonomy, but not soon forget the palette of soft blues and grays that adorn this handsome species. The female is quite similar in plumage, but said to be duller. The colors vary with the light and I tried to select some shots that feature the startling violet shoulder patch.