So Tiny, So Striking: The Pin-tailed Manakin – A Technicolor Jigsaw of Beauty

Despite its small size, the Pin-tailed Manakin is remarkably eye-catching with its vibrant red forehead and a contrasting bright stripe running down its back.

The Pin-tailed Manakin (Ilicura militaris) measures a mere 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in length. Adult males are easily recognizable due to their distinct red fore-crown and rump. They have black wings with green secondary feathers, and underneath, there is a white chest that extends from the rump up to the throat, directly below the bill. They possess a forked tail, brown-black legs, and yellow-orange eyes.

Females are mostly olive green, with the exception of a gray neck and auriculars, and a cream-colored chest.

Juvenile male birds closely resemble their female counterparts.

This species is found exclusively along the eastern coast of Brazil, making it endemic to the region.

The Pin-tailed Manakin inhabits the humid Atlantic Forest, which stretches from the state of Bahia to the state of Rio Grande Do Sul.

The Pin-tailed Manakin is primarily considered a frugivorous bird, although it has been observed consuming small amounts of insects on occasion.

During the breeding season, the male establishes a display area known as a lek, spanning 20 to 30 meters, where he puts on a show to attract potential mates. Within the lek, there is a mating perch situated 3.3 to 20 meters above the ground. The female is enticed to the lek by the male’s frequent “see” calls. Once a female is in the area, the male lures her to his mating perch and performs acrobatic jumps over her, sometimes creating a snapping sound in the air. He also fluffs out his vibrant red rump and lowers his chin when landing face-to-face with her.

Due to its extensive range, this species does not meet the criteria for Vulnerable based on its range size, and therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it is threatened by deforestation.