<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='360580'>Black-legged Dacnis

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Endémique
  • Scientific Name: Dacnis nigripes
  • Spanish Name: Dacnis patinegro
  • Famille : Thraupidae
  • Known Nicknames: Black-legged Dacnis
  • Average Length: 10–11 cm / 3.9–4.3 in
  • Average Weight: 10–12 g / 0.35–0.42 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Male is bright turquoise-blue with black lores, wings, and legs; female is olive-green with pale underparts and blackish legs
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore (also insects)
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo to Santa Catarina)
  • Habitat: Humid lowland and montane Atlantic Forest, forest edges and clearings
  • Social Structure: Small groups or pairs, often in mixed-species flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest in tree fork
  • Statut de conservation : Quasi menacé (NT)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Black-legged Dacnis (*Dacnis nigripes*) is a striking, small Neotropical tanager found exclusively in the lowland and foothill forests of eastern Brazil. Its most distinctive feature is the stark contrast between its deep, glossy black legs and its vibrant, turquoise-blue body, a combination unique among its close relatives. Males are a brilliant cerulean blue with a black mask, throat, and wings, while females are a more subdued olive-green with a pale blue wash on the underparts. A special behavioral trait is its strong association with mixed-species foraging flocks, where it actively gleans insects and small fruits from the canopy, often hanging upside-down like a titmouse. Despite its beauty, this species is considered Near Threatened due to ongoing habitat loss in its restricted Atlantic Forest range.

Faits amusants

The Black-legged Dacnis has a bizarre feeding habit where it will intermittently hang upside down like a titmouse to peck at fruit or insects, a behavior unusual among tanagers. Males undergo a striking seasonal change, transitioning from a brilliant turquoise and black breeding plumage to a duller, more cryptic olive-and-gray non-breeding look—a rare molt pattern for a tropical bird. It also employs a unique "foot-stirring" technique, rapidly vibrating one leg against leaf litter to flush out hidden spiders and katydids before snatching them in mid-air. Despite its small size, it is known to aggressively mob much larger birds, including toucans, that venture near its nesting cavity.

Habitats et répartition

The Black-legged Dacnis primarily inhabits the humid lowland forests, forest edges, and secondary growth of the Atlantic Forest biome. It is particularly associated with tall, mature forest canopies but can also be found in selectively logged areas and restinga forests along the coast. Its geographical range is highly restricted to eastern Brazil, occurring from southern Bahia south through Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and into the northernmost parts of São Paulo state. This species is endemic to this narrow strip of the Atlantic Forest, making its distribution patchy and limited by the region’s fragmented and declining forest cover.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Black-legged Dacnis is typically observed in small, loose flocks or mixed-species foraging groups, though pairs become more solitary during the breeding season. Mating appears to be monogamous, with males performing short, fluttering display flights and vocalizations to attract females. Females build a small, cup-shaped nest using fine plant fibers and spider webs, usually placed high in a tree fork. Clutch size is typically two eggs, which the female incubates alone, while the male assists by bringing food to the nest. Both parents feed the chicks, and fledging occurs after about two weeks. A unique reproductive strategy involves the male’s vivid blue plumage, which may signal fitness, and pairs often reuse or renovate old nests from previous seasons, reducing energy expenditure.

Alimentation

The Black-legged Dacnis is primarily a frugivore, with its diet heavily centered on small, soft fruits and berries, particularly those from mistletoe species and various trees in the canopy. It also actively consumes insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and spiders, which it gleans from leaves and branches to supplement its protein intake, especially during the breeding season. A notable aspect of its feeding behavior is that it often joins mixed-species foraging flocks, allowing it to exploit a wider range of food sources while benefiting from the vigilance of other birds. Additionally, this species has been observed to occasionally visit flowering trees to drink nectar, demonstrating a degree of dietary flexibility that helps it adapt to seasonal changes in fruit availability.

Couleurs

The male Black-legged Dacnis is a vivid turquoise-blue with a black mask around the eyes, black wings, and a black tail, while the female is a duller olive-green above and pale yellowish below, both having black legs and a white crescent under the eye. It lacks any specific camouflage adaptations, relying instead on its bright colors for social signaling in the canopy.

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