Bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon guerinii) with succulents

Bearded Helmetcrest (Oxypogon guerinii) with succulents, originally uploaded by Duane McDowell.

Mifafi, Merida, Venezuela.
We climbed this hill above the Condor reintroduction center specifically to try to see the Bearded Helmetcrest. After a long and somewhat arduous climb, we found these flowers, and Albaro, our guide, told us that this was where the bird would be if it was around...