Heterocercus linteatus
The Flame-crested Manakin (Heterocercus linteatus) is a dazzling jewel of the Amazonian understory, instantly recognizable by the male's spectacular, fiery orange-red crest. This small passerine, measuring approximately 12-13 cm in length and weighing around 12-15 grams, exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism. Males boast a velvety black body contrasted with their brilliant, erectile flame-colored parietal crest and piercing white irises, while females are more subtly adorned in olive-green pluma...
Found in dense, humid lowland rainforests, often favoring areas near water sources or in terra firme forests, typically at elevations below 500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming small fruits and berries, supplemented with a lesser amount of insects caught in flight.
Flame-crested Manakins are primarily diurnal, with males spending significant portions of their day at traditional lekking sites, small clearings on the forest floor, often cleared by the males themselves. Foraging involves active gleaning of small fruits and hawking insects in short, agile fligh...
The Flame-crested Manakin is restricted to the southwestern Amazon Basin of South America. Its primary distribution lies in central and eastern Brazil, specifically south of the Amazon River and generally east of the Madeira River and west of the Tapajós River. A disjunct population also exists i...
Least Concern
- The male's fiery orange-red crest can be erected and flattened at will, often dramatically displayed during courtship. - Like many manakins, males engage in complex 'lekking' rituals, where multiple males gather to perform for females. - Despite their brilliant plumage, they can be surprisingly...