Blue Dacnis

The Blue Dacnis occurs in eastern Ecuador, where it inhabits humid lowland forests, forest edges, and secondary growth below about 800 meters, particularly in the upper Amazon Basin. It is generally uncommon but locally present, often seen in mixed-species flocks foraging actively in the canopy for fruit and insects, its vivid turquoise plumage making it one of the more striking tanagers. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a vast Neotropical range and an estimated global population exceeding 50 million mature individuals, though its numbers are thought to be slowly declining due to habitat degradation. Natural history observations highlight its sexual dimorphism, social foraging behavior, and preference for high canopy strata, with nesting habits still not well documented in Ecuador.