Striolated Manakin

Overview

The striolated manakin, or western striped manakin (Machaeropterus striolatus), is a small passerine bird in the family Pipridae native to South America. It is a sedentary, year-round resident found across six countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.

Identification

• Length of 9 to 10.3 cm with a weight of 6.4 to 12.5 g, exhibiting distinct sexual dimorphism.
• Adult males feature a bright red forehead, crown, and nape, olive-green upperparts, and whitish underparts with bold red stripes on the breast, belly, and flanks.
• Females lack red on the head, displaying a yellow stain on the upper breast and streaks limited to the belly and flanks.
• Both sexes possess deep red-brown irides, a dark maxilla with a paler mandible, and purplish pink legs with rose-colored soles.

Habitat

The species primarily inhabits humid terra firme forest, with lesser presence in mature secondary forest and occasionally forest edges with fruiting trees. Elevation ranges vary by region, reaching up to 1,500 m in Colombia, 1,100 m in Ecuador, 1,350 m in Peru, and typically between 300 and 1,200 m in Venezuela.

Diet

The striolated manakin feeds on small fruits and insects, taking them via short sallies from a perch. Specific details regarding its foraging behaviour are lacking.

Did you know?

Males perform a display involving vertical jumps from a perch with vibrating wings that create a mechanical whir, alongside spinning on and under the perch.