Manakin (e.g. Ceratopipra mentalis)

BirdNeotropicalCourtship display

Overview

Manakins (family Pipridae) are small, plump, short-tailed birds of the forests of Central and South America, famous not for size but for spectacle. The males of many species are boldly patterned — like the red-capped manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) shown here, a velvety black bird with a glowing red head — and they are renowned for performing some of the most elaborate and acrobatic courtship dances in the entire bird world.

From rapid “moonwalk” slides along a branch to snapping, buzzing mechanical sounds made with specially modified wing feathers, male manakins put on astonishing displays to win the attention of watching females.

Note: “manakin” covers many species; details here use the red-capped manakin as a reference and describe the group broadly. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Manakins live in the forests of the Neotropics — from Mexico and Central America through much of tropical South America — mainly in the understorey of humid lowland and foothill rainforest, with some species in other wooded habitats. They tend to keep to the lower and middle levels of the forest, where the males clear and defend their display sites.

Diet

Manakins are mainly frugivores, feeding largely on small fruits and berries that they often pluck in quick, fluttering sallies, and they also take insects, especially to feed their young. By eating fruit and dispersing the seeds, manakins help regenerate their forests — and their fruit-rich diet helps fuel the energetic males' long hours of display.

Behavior

Manakins are best known for their courtship. Males of most species display at “leks” — traditional gathering sites where several males perform — using a dazzling repertoire of dances, posturing, and sounds to attract females, which choose a mate and then nest and raise the young entirely on their own. The displays are remarkably varied and athletic: the red-capped manakin's rapid backward slide along a perch is often likened to a “moonwalk,” while other species snap, whirr, and buzz using uniquely modified wing feathers, and some even cooperate, with two males performing together. These intense displays have made manakins a favourite subject for studying sexual selection.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Manakins are a delight to birdwatchers and a celebrated example of evolution by mate choice, and as fruit-eaters they help keep tropical forests healthy. Like many forest birds they depend on intact woodland, so deforestation is the main concern; many species remain common, while some restricted-range ones are of greater concern. Consult the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the manakin