White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) lives in tropical lowland forest across Amazon and Orinoco basins. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the White-bearded Manakin
- At just 10.7 centimetres (4.2 in) long and weighing only 16.5 grams (0.58 oz), the white-bearded manakin sports a bold black-and-white plumage. the species can thrive in both dense forest and open plantations, expanding its habitat options across its huge South-American range.
- During breeding season males clear a bare patch on the forest floor and perform rapid leaps between sticks, snapping their wings and shouting a distinctive "chee-poo" call. Groups of up to 70 birds may perform together, with the largest leks recorded on Trinidad, creating a noisy, synchronized spectacle.
- The female builds a shallow cup nest low in a tree and incubates two brown-mottled white eggs for about 18-19 days, after which the chicks fledge in another 13-15 days. During this period the young are fed mainly on regurgitated fruit with some insects.
- Two-thirds of the white-bearded manakin's range lies within the Amazon Basin, the Guianas, and the Orinoco River drainage, stretching from eastern Colombia down to southeastern Brazil and even reaching Paraguay. The only Amazonian gap is a 2 200 km stretch along the Purus River in southwestern Amazonas state.
- Despite being common across a vast area, the white-bearded manakin is listed as "least concern" by the IUCN. Its population is presumed large and stable.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeAmazon and Orinoco basins
HabitatTropical lowland forest
DietFruit and insects
About the White-bearded Manakin
In the dimly lit understory of the tropical rainforest, the White-bearded Manakin dances with reckless abandon, its tiny feet tapping out a staccato rhythm on the forest floor as it vies for the attention of potential mates. With each precise, mechanical step, the bird's snow-white beard feathers quiver and shine like a beacon, adding an air of mesmerizing drama to its already captivating courtship display. As it leaps and pivots through the shadows, the Manakin's iridescent plumage flashes with a fleeting, emerald green brilliance, a brief, shimmering glimpse of beauty in the dark, mysterious world of the forest floor.
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