Blue Dacnis

Copyright: monacoeye • All rights reserved • Brazil, November 2009

Bird name: Blue Dacnis
Latin: Dacnis cayana
Other: Turquoise Honeycreeper • Saí azul (Br) • Dacnis azul, mielero turquesa (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Dacnises
Range: Nicaragua to Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil
Similar:

The Blue Dacnis is a widespread tanager found in much of South and Central America, including nearly all of Brazil. It will visit fruit feeders and sometimes even tries nectar feeders. Also seen on Cecropia from observation deck of Canopy Tower in Panama.

The Blue Dacnis has pink legs, and a black wedge-shaped mask. Plumage is electric blue in the male (above) with black on back, wings and black bill. The female (below) has a green body and blue head.

The lowest photo shows a bird which may be a very young Blue Dacnis, but shows little of the usual colouration.

Below, adult male Blue Dacnis.


Below, wet adult female Blue Dacnis, Sao Paulo.


Below, adult female Blue Dacnis.


Below, probably juvenile Blue Dacnis.