The “Mielero Verde,” or Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) is a bird commonly found in Costa Rica’s rainforests.

This beautiful bird frequently resides on the Caribbean slope, around 3,300 feet above sea level, according to the Costa Rican wildlife magazine Ecos del Bosque.

Sightings of this bird have also been recorded on the Pacific Coast, specifically in the southern region’s rainforests, up to 3,900 feet above sea level.

In the Americas, the brightly colored tanagers are found from southern Mexico to Brazil.

They can be seen alone or in pairs and often forage with birds of other species.

This small green tanager stands out with its predominantly yellow beak, which is slender and slightly curved downward. Males are a vivid blue-green with a prominent black mask, while females have a more uniform, duller green color.

Male Mieleros Verdes are distinctive with their shiny, vibrant feathers, black mask, and bright yellow, slightly decurved beak. Juveniles, regardless of sex, look similar to females but have duller coloration.

The amazing bird measures about 5.5 inches long and weighs approximately 0.81 ounces. It is primarily an omnivore, feeding mainly on fruit and nectar, as well as some arthropods like insects and spiders.

In Costa Rica, they breed between April and July. The female builds the nest by herself and incubates usually a couple of eggs for 13 days, while both parents contribute to feeding the nestlings. The eggs are white with dark brown spots speckled around the base.

In 2009, the Green Honeycreeper’s conservation status was classified as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, due to its extensive geographic distribution the population numbers seem decreasing.

The Mielero Verde is one of the very attractive small species of tanager that can be found in Costa Rica. Another amazing colorful bird is the Mil Colores, a widespread bird in the country's tropical rainforest lowlands and mountains.

Wild Costa Rica is a space for readers to discover more about the fascinating species that make the "Pura Vida" land one of the world's countries with the richest natural diversity.