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The Blue Dacnis or Turquoise Honeycreepers (Dacnis cayana) are small Tanagers.
Distribution / Range
They occur naturally in Central America – Nicaragua to Panama, on Trinidad – as well as in South America south to Bolivia and northern Argentina.
They inhabit forests and other woodlands.
Nesting / Breeding
They construct bulky nests that are typically placed in trees.
The average clutch consists of two white eggs with brown blotches.
The female alone incubates the eggs, however, the male feeds her and helps raise the young.
Description
The Blue Dacnis measures about 12.7 cm in length (including the relatively short tail) and weighs about 13 g.
The adult male’s plumage is mostly turquoise blue with a black forehead, throat and back. The wings and tail are black with a turquoise edge.
Females and immature birds have a mostly green plumage, except for a blue head, paler green underparts and green-edged brown wings.
Diet / Feeding
Blue Dacnis mostly feed on insects gleaned from foliage, flowers or bromeliads. They also eat fruits, which they usually swallow whole. They rarely consume nectar.
Calls / Vocalization
The Blue Dacnis’s call is described as a thin tsip.
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