Dacnis

Dacnis is a genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.
These are colorful birds with bright blue males and green females.
They have different bill shapes and many of them feed on nectar.

Dacnis are native to the Neotropical region, which includes Central and South America, the Caribbean, and parts of southern North America.
They inhabit various types of forests, from lowland rainforests to montane cloud forests.
They are mostly found in the canopy or the subcanopy, where they forage for fruits, insects, and nectar.

There are ten species of Dacnis, each with its own distribution and habitat preferences.
Some of the most widespread and common species are the blue dacnis, the yellow-bellied dacnis, and the black-faced dacnis.
The blue dacnis ranges from Nicaragua to northern Argentina, and is also found on Trinidad.
It prefers humid forests and edges, and often joins mixed-species flocks.
The yellow-bellied dacnis occurs in the Amazon basin and the eastern Orinoco region.
It favors tall forests and riverine habitats, and sometimes visits gardens and plantations.
The black-faced dacnis is found in the Amazon and the Chocó-Magdalena region.
It inhabits humid forests and adjacent clearings, and is often associated with bamboo.

Some of the most rare and restricted species are the scarlet-breasted dacnis, the turquoise dacnis, and the viridian dacnis.
The scarlet-breasted dacnis is endemic to Colombia and Ecuador, where it lives in humid montane forests.
It is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and is considered vulnerable by the IUCN.
The turquoise dacnis is also endemic to Colombia, where it occurs in the western Andes.
It inhabits humid forests and edges, and is also vulnerable due to habitat destruction.
The viridian dacnis is endemic to the Darién region of Colombia and Panama.
It lives in lowland and foothill forests, and is poorly known and rarely seen.

Dacnis are attractive and interesting birds that contribute to the biodiversity and beauty of the Neotropical region.
They are part of the largest radiation of songbirds in the world, the tanagers, which comprise more than 400 species.

Dacnis is a genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.

These birds are native to Central and South America, and they have bright colors and various bill shapes.

Some of them feed on nectar from flowers.

The most common species of Dacnis is the blue dacnis or turquoise honeycreeper (Dacnis cayana).

This bird has a small body, about 12 cm long, and weighs about 14 g.

The male has a turquoise-blue head, throat, and upperparts, with a black mask, wings, and tail.

The female is mostly green, with a blue crown and nape, and a yellowish breast.

The bill is black and slightly curved.