Tit-like Dacnis - BirdForum Opus

Xenodacnis parina

Photo of Male by Stanley Jones
Azuay Province, Ecuador, November, 2014

Photo of Female by Stanley Jones
Azuay Province, Ecuador, November, 2014

Photo of Juvenile Maleby Stanley Jones
Azuay Province, Ecuador, November, 2014

Identification

12.5 cm. Deep blue, dark eyes, bill, and feet. Female of all subspecies is duller, with rufous-brown underparts.

Distribution

Southern Ecuador and Peru.

Taxonomy

Three subspecies are recognized¹: petersi, parina, and bella.

Habitat

Montane scrub forests from 3000 m to 4600 m elevation where Gynox shrubs are present.

Behaviour

It forages almost entirely by gleaning from the undersides of Gynox leaves, feeding on small insects and sugary secretions produced either by the insects or by the leaves. The diet also includes nectar.

It builds a tiny cup nest which is placed in a tree.

References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

External Links

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