Blue-and-gold Tanager on a Branch, Costa Rica

This watercolor-like image depicts a Blue-and-gold Tanager (Bangsia arcaei) perched on a branch in Costa Rica, as noted in the lower-left caption. The bird is rendered with striking detail — its deep navy-blue plumage contrasting beautifully against a vivid golden-yellow chest and belly, with a distinctive red eye catching the light. It sits alert on a gnarled branch surrounded by soft, loosely painted green foliage, while the background dissolves into dreamy washes of sage green, pale yellow, and blue — characteristic of the watercolor medium. The overall composition balances naturalistic detail in the bird with impressionistic freedom in the environment, giving the piece both scientific illustration quality and artistic expressiveness.