Turquoise dacnis

The turquoise dacnis is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is endemic to Colombia. It is a rather distinct species of dacnis, formerly separated in the monotypic genus Pseudodacnis.

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Distribution

Region

Andean Colombia

Typical Environment

Occurs patchily on the slopes and inter-Andean valleys of the Colombian Andes, especially in the upper Magdalena and Cauca drainages. It favors humid and subhumid forest edges, secondary growth, and semi-open woodlands with tall trees. The species also uses agroforestry mosaics such as shade coffee and scattered trees along riparian corridors. It is typically encountered in canopy and edge strata and may join mixed-species flocks.

Altitude Range

600–2200 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size10–12 cm

Wing Span17–20 cm

Male Weight0.012 kg

Female Weight0.011 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The turquoise dacnis is a striking Neotropical tanager endemic to Colombia and was formerly placed in its own monotypic genus Pseudodacnis. Males show an intense turquoise-blue contrasted with dark wings and mask, while females are more subdued green. It is threatened primarily by deforestation and fragmentation of humid Andean forests and foothills. Conservation-friendly agroforestry (e.g., shade coffee) can provide important secondary habitat.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

active and somewhat shy

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Often forages in pairs or small family groups and frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the canopy. Likely monogamous, building a small cup nest placed high in foliage. Territoriality is moderate, with pairs defending immediate nesting areas during the breeding season.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Thin, high-pitched seee and tsee notes interspersed with brief trills. Vocalizations are modest in volume but frequent during active foraging, especially at forest edges.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Turquoise parrot

The turquoise parrot is a species of parrot in the genus Neophema native to Eastern Australia, from southeastern Queensland, through New South Wales and into North-Eastern Victoria. It was described by George Shaw in 1792. A small lightly built parrot at around 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 40 g in weight, it exhibits sexual dimorphism. The male is predominantly green with more yellowish underparts and a bright turquoise blue face. Its wings are predominantly blue with red shoulders. The female is generally duller and paler, with a pale green breast and yellow belly, and lacks the red wing patch.

Turquoise tanager

The turquoise tanager is a medium-sized passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is a resident bird from Trinidad, much of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, and south to Bolivia. Despite its scientific name, it is not found in Mexico. It is restricted to areas with humid forest, with its primary distribution being the Amazon. It was formerly treated as being conspecific with the white-bellied tanager which is found in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil.

Turquoise-browed motmot

The turquoise-browed motmot is a colourful, medium-sized bird of the motmot family, Momotidae. It inhabits Central America from south-east Mexico, to Costa Rica, where it is common and not considered threatened. It lives in fairly open habitats such as forest edge, gallery forest and scrubland. It is more conspicuous than other motmots, often perching in the open on wires and fences. From these perches it scans for prey, such as insects and small reptiles. White eggs (3–6) are laid in a long tunnel nest in an earth bank or sometimes in a quarry or fresh-water well. Its name originates from the turquoise color of its brow. It is the national bird of both El Salvador and Nicaragua, where it is known as torogoz and guardabarranco respectively.