The black manakin is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across lowland tropical forests of northern South America, including the Guianas, southern Venezuela, southeastern Colombia, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and much of Amazonian Brazil. It favors humid lowland rainforest, forest edges, and second-growth, and can use seasonally flooded forests along rivers. Birds keep to the lower and mid understory, often perching quietly in shaded thickets. It also forages along natural gaps and light-filled edges where fruit resources are concentrated.
Altitude Range
0–1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Black manakins are small Neotropical birds of the understory that play an important role as seed dispersers thanks to their fruit-heavy diet. Males perform courtship displays at small leks, while females alone build the nest and raise the young. They are typically quiet and unobtrusive away from display sites.
Temperament
shy and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Males gather at small leks to perform brief display flights and perch-changes to attract females. Nesting is solitary; the female builds a small cup nest low in shrubs and is responsible for incubation and chick care. Outside of displays, individuals are typically solitary or in pairs and may loosely associate with mixed-species flocks while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, thin whistles and faint ticks delivered from low perches. During displays, males may add rapid, buzzy notes and mechanical wing sounds. The song is easily overlooked amid louder rainforest species.
