BLUE DACNIS Dacnis cayana
Flitting about in the tree-tops like feathered gemstones, the depth of the blue in the plumage of the male really has to be seen to be believed. For the most part they are nectar-feeders, using the long thin bill to sip the sugary liquid, but they also frequently join roving mixed flocks of insectivores, moving through the tree-canopy like an avian wave and pouncing on any fly, beetle or caterpillar that is unfortunate enough to get caught in the surf.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE4088PH) Adult male, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Hemme Batjes November 2005).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE4089PH) Adult male, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE4090PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4089PH) upperwing (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE4091PH) Adult female, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Sylvia Qu June 2008).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE4092PH) Adult female, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE4093PH) Same individual as (FPAVE4092PH) upperwing (Paul Smith November 2005).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE4094PH) Adult female, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Derek Onley July 2010).
FIGURE 8 - (FPAVE4095PH) Juvenile, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith October 2014)
FIGURE 9 - (FPAVE4096PH) Same juvenile as (FPAVE4095PH) upperwing (Paul Smith October 2014)
VIDEO - (FPAVE4097VI) Adult female, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith April 2010).
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Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Derek Onley and Sylvia Qu and is used with their permission.