Ceratopipra mentalis
The Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) is a small, vibrant neotropical passerine renowned for its striking sexual dimorphism and spectacular courtship displays. Males boast a glossy black plumage contrasted sharply by a brilliant scarlet cap and bright yellow undertail coverts and thighs, measuring approximately 9.5-10.5 cm in length and weighing around 16-18 grams. Females are significantly duller, exhibiting an olive-green coloration across their body, providing effective camouflage ...
Primarily inhabits humid lowland tropical rainforests, dense secondary growth, and forest edges, typically at elevations from sea level up to around 1200 meters. It thrives in the understory and mid-story layers of these lush environments.
Feeds predominantly on small fruits, particularly berries and drupes, which are typically swallowed whole. It also supplements its diet with small insects caught primarily through flycatching.
Red-capped Manakins are diurnal and generally solitary outside of the lekking grounds, though they may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks. Males establish and maintain leks, which are communal display areas where they perform elaborate courtship rituals to attract females. Their most...
The Red-capped Manakin has a widespread distribution across Central America and into northwestern South America. Its breeding range extends from southeastern Mexico (including parts of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas) south through the Caribbean slopes and lowlands of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, N...
Least Concern
- The Red-capped Manakin is famous for its "moonwalk" courtship dance, a backward slide along a branch while snapping its wings. - Males produce a wide range of mechanical sounds, including snaps and whirs, using specialized wing feathers, not just their syrinx (voice box). - The "moonwalk" displ...