Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana Photo by Arthur Morris The bright and cheery Blue Dacnis is a welcome sight to visitors at all the Canopy Family lodges. At only 11 cm in length, the Blue Dacnis is one of the smaller members of the colorful tanager family. The male is a brilliant blue overall, ranging from rich cobalt to bright turquoise, with a black back, mask and throat, and black edging on the wings. The female, unlike in most species, is equally as feching, with a bright green body and blue head. Juvenile birds are similar in appearance to females, but have more yellowish underparts and a darker mask. Both male and female sport pinkish legs. The Blue Dacnis has a straight pointed bill, unlike the similar honeycreepers which have decurved bills. There are eight recognized subspecies; they differ in the shade of blue in the males and the head color of the females. Two subspecies can be found in Panama; throughout most of the country, males are a bright ultramarine blue and females have a gray throat; in extreme western Panama, the females' throat is tinged with blue, and males are a light turquoise color. Some refer to the Blue Dacnis as the “Turquoise Honeycreeper.” The Blue Dacnis is an active little bird of the rainforest canopy, foraging for insects and fruits most often in the highest treetops. It can also be found along woodland edges and clearings with trees, and a variety of other habitats throughout its range. Blue Dacnis are social birds, and pairs tend to associate with mixed feeding flocks – up to 12 individuals may be present in a flock! Blue Dacnis are not overly vocal; their call is a high-pitched, thin “tsit” and their song isn't much more than that. They feed primarily on insects and fruit,
Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana Photo by Arthur Morris The bright and cheery Blue Dacnis is a welcome sight to visitors at all the Canopy Family lodges. At only 11 cm in length, the
