This is a male showing blue streaking on its sides and flanks and a narrow blue band across its chest. Note also the black streaking on its back. This species has seriously declined in recent decades on its breeding grounds in the eastern US and on its wintering grounds in the South American Andes. They normally forage very high in the canopy of mature trees making them difficult to see and study. Habitat loss is blamed for their continuing decline. They are currently classified as "near threatened." Now an uncommon migrant along the Texas coast they formerly nested in the northeastern part of the state.
