Dacnis nigripes
The Black-legged Dacnis (Dacnis nigripes) is a small, brilliantly colored passerine bird, a true jewel of the South American Atlantic Forest. Males are strikingly dimorphic, boasting a largely iridescent turquoise-blue plumage, contrasted sharply by a black lore mask, black wings, a black tail, and distinctively black legs-a feature that gives the species its scientific and common names. They measure approximately 11 cm (4.3 inches) in length and weigh a mere 10-15 grams. Females present a mo...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, often frequenting forest edges, clearings, and plantations, typically at elevations between 500 and 1500 meters.
Their diet is omnivorous, primarily consisting of nectar from various flowering plants, small fruits and berries, and a variety of small insects gleaned from leaves and bark.
Black-legged Dacnis are diurnal and highly active, spending most of their time foraging in the canopy and subcanopy of trees. They employ a combination of gleaning for insects on foliage, probing flowers for nectar with their slender bills, and plucking small fruits. While specific details on ter...
The Black-legged Dacnis is endemic to a restricted portion of southeastern Brazil, exclusively found within the Atlantic Forest biome. Its distribution spans the coastal and montane regions of several Brazilian states, including Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, a...
Near Threatened
- The 'nigripes' in its scientific name literally means 'black foot' in Latin, directly referring to its distinctive black legs. - The male's brilliant blue plumage is a result of structural coloration, where microscopic feather structures refract light, rather than actual blue pigments. - It oft...