Chiroxiphia boliviana
The Yungas Manakin (*Chiroxiphia boliviana*) is a spectacular, medium-sized passerine celebrated for its vibrant plumage and complex courtship rituals. Males are instantly recognizable by their striking velvety black plumage contrasted with a brilliant turquoise-blue back and a vivid scarlet red crown. They measure approximately 13-14 cm (5-5.5 inches) in length and typically weigh around 18-24 grams. Females, in contrast, are a duller olive-green overall, with paler, sometimes yellowish, und...
Prefers subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, particularly cloud forests and humid foothill forests, at elevations typically between 1,000 to 2,500 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming a variety of small fruits, particularly berries from Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae families, supplemented with small insects caught in flight or gleaned from foliage.
The Yungas Manakin is renowned for its highly synchronized, cooperative lek displays, where groups of two to four (or more) males perform intricate dances for a visiting female. These displays involve rapid, coordinated hops, wing-whirring 'butterfly' flights, and bowing maneuvers, often accompan...
The Yungas Manakin is endemic to the humid eastern slopes of the Andes, primarily within the Yungas ecoregion of southern Peru and central Bolivia. In Peru, its distribution includes departments such as Cusco and Puno, extending south into Bolivia. In Bolivia, it is found across the departments o...
Least Concern
- The spectacular cooperative courtship displays of multiple males are among the most complex and synchronized in the avian world. - Only the most dominant male at a a lek typically gets to mate, after a synchronized performance by his 'wingmen'. - The female alone is responsible for building the...