AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Dacnis cayana
Blue Dacnis
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
It is a small, slender bird of the tanager family, famous for its spectacular coloration and refined silhouette. It exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. The adult male stands out for an iridescent and brilliant turquoise-blue or ultramarine body plumage, which contrasts dramatically with a jet-black mask around the eyes. Its throat, upper back, and tail are also intense black, while the wing feathers combine blue edges and black centers. Its eyes feature a burning wine-red or reddish-brown iris. The bill is short, conical, sharp, and dark gray, adapted for piercing berries. The legs are pinkish or pale grayish.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Passeriformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Thraupidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Dacnis
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Linnaeus, 1766)
Record Completeness
94%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Stable
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
--
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Omnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
It is widely distributed throughout the neotropical regions from Honduras, through all of Central America, to the Amazon basin, Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. In Costa Rica, it is common in the lowlands and foothills of the Caribbean slope and the southern Pacific region, reaching up to 1,000 meters in altitude. It predominantly inhabits the upper canopy and edges of tropical humid forests, tall secondary forests, coffee plantations with native shade trees, and wooded gardens with fruit trees.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
It is a diurnal bird, highly active and agile in its movements. It spends most of its time in the tops of tall trees, hopping through the foliage of the thinnest branches and adopting acrobatic upside-down postures to inspect leaves. Outside the breeding period, it shows highly gregarious and peaceful behavior, regularly integrating into large mixed canopy flocks alongside green honeycreepers, tanagers, and euphonias. It constantly communicates with subtle, high-pitched squeaks sounding like 'tsip' to coordinate group flights between treetops.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
It is a markedly social bird outside the breeding season, with low aggressiveness and notable tolerance toward both conspecifics and other frugivorous species. It commonly travels in stable pairs or small family groups of 3 to 5 individuals that integrate into mobile mixed flocks. During mating, pairs become discreet and exclusive to protect the immediate surroundings of the nest.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Omnivore specialized in fruits, arils, and nectar, significantly supplemented with insects. It consumes berries from melastome shrubs and mistletoes, pulp from large fruits, and canopy inflorescences of leguminous trees. It captures small beetles, ants, aphids, and larvae through meticulous leaf inspections and brief sally-flights.Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
It functions as a crucial upper-level omnivorous consumer. It acts as a broad-spectrum seed disperser for trees such as Cecropia and various epiphytes, and as a complementary pollinator. Its diet includes fleshy arils, nectar, and small berries of Ficus and Loranthaceae, enriched with insects, aphids, and small spiders. It shares resources with the Red-legged Honeycreeper and the Green Honeycreeper. It is preyed upon by small-sized arboreal raptors such as forest falcons (Micrastur) and canopy climbing snakes like Corallus.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
It establishes monogamous relationships. The female exclusively builds a deep, compact cup nest, neatly woven with fine plant fibers, moss, spider webs, and dry leaves, located at heights ranging from 5 to 15 meters in the fork of an upper branch or hidden among epiphytes. She usually lays 2 whitish or pale blue eggs with abundant reddish-brown freckles. The female carries out incubation alone for 13 days, a period during which the male constantly provides her with regurgitated food. Both parents feed the chicks with regurgitated insects and nectar for 14 to 15 days until they are able to fledge.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
12.0 - 13.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
13 g - 16 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.2 - 2
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
1 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
13
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males5 - 9 Years
Females5 - 9 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
The adult male features a highly showy brilliant turquoise or cerulean blue color across most of the body. Around the eyes, it exhibits a well-defined jet-black mask. The throat, upper back, tail, and most of the wings are of a deep matte black that highlights the blue glow.
Females Multi-lang
The adult female possesses a predominantly brilliant grass-green or lime green plumage on the upperparts, completely lacking the black mask on the head. Her head and cheeks show a subtle bluish tint, the throat is pale grayish, and the underparts are a pale yellowish-green. The wing and tail feathers are dark with green edges.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Leaf Gleaning Technique: It possesses a robust yet sharp bill used to meticulously examine the undersides of leaves, collecting small arthropods and caterpillars through quick acrobatic twists.
Efficient Aril Consumption: It has developed a particular dexterity to open hard seed capsules or ripe fruits, extracting the fleshy and lipid-rich arils with great precision without swallowing toxic parts.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
High Secondary Forest Fragmentation: Requiring mature and continuous tree structures in the canopy for its feeding routes, selective logging and the isolation of forest fragments severely reduce its living space.
Loss of Biological Corridors: Urban and agricultural expansion interrupts the passages of native vegetation connecting different forested patches, limiting the local nomadic movements it performs in search of mass-fruiting trees.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Nectar Robbing: Unlike hummingbirds, the Blue Dacnis often pierces the external base of long-corolla flowers to steal nectar directly without passing through the stamens, sometimes acting as a floral robber.
Canopy Alert Calls: It possesses a faint but very high-pitched voice. It emits rapid clicking sounds that serve as alarm signals for other mixed-flock species at the silhouette of a soaring hawk.