Flame-crested Manakin

Overview

The flame-crested manakin, also known as the flame-crowned manakin, is a small bird in the family Pipridae. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List and is considered uncommon to frequent in parts of its range, such as Brazil.

Identification

• Males are approximately 14 cm long and weigh 20 to 24 g, featuring a mostly black head with an often hidden red stripe on the crown and long, silky white throat feathers.
• Upperparts and flanks are dark olive, transitioning to a sooty olive upper breast and deep chestnut lower breast that becomes cinnamon-rufous on the belly.
• Females lack the red crown stripe, having a head the same dark olive as their upperparts but with a dusky face and gray throat, along with cinnamon-buff underparts.
• Both sexes possess a dark brown iris, a long narrow dark bill, and dark legs and feet.

Habitat

Found primarily in central Brazil, extending west to Peru and northern Bolivia and south to southeastern Mato Grosso. The species inhabits humid várzea forest and woodlands along watercourses at elevations up to about 500 m.

Diet

The flame-crested manakin feeds on small fruits, insects, and spiders, though specific details of its feeding behaviour are lacking. It forages in the lower strata of the forest.

Did you know?

Males perform a display at leks to attract females, which includes flaring their distinctive white throat feathers. Although males call loudly during this display, the specific nature of the call has not yet been described.