Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

The scarlet-thighed dacnis (Dacnis venusta) is a tanager native to Central and northernmost South America.

Taxonomy: The species name, venusta, means lovely or beautiful.

 The iris of the scarlet-thighed dacnis is bright red in male individuals, and duller red in the females. The males have a characteristic bright turquoise blue crown and nape, sides of head and neck, centre of back, rump and scapulars. The forehead, lores, sides of back, wings and tail, mid-throat, and the entire remaining underparts of the male birds are black; the thighs are scarlet, but these are usually hidden. The females are a dull greenish blue above, which is brightest on their cheeks, scapulars, and rump, and duskier on their back, wings, and tail; below dingy buffy greyish, buffiest on belly and undertail coverts.

Distribution and habitat: The scarlet-thighed tanager is found in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and Panama.