The fiery-capped manakin is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland tropical rainforest across the Amazon Basin of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and northern Bolivia. It favors terra firme forest but also uses seasonally flooded várzea, forest edges, and riparian thickets. Most activity is in the shaded understory and midstory, often near fruiting shrubs and small trees. It may frequent bamboo patches and vine tangles where fruits are abundant.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Males gather in small leks where they perform quick hops, short flights, and sharp wing-snaps to attract females. The blazing orange to red crown can be flattened or raised, making the color seem to flare during displays. It spends most of its time in the dim understory, where it can be surprisingly hard to spot despite the male’s vivid cap.
Temperament
shy and cryptic
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Males display in loose leks, each holding a small perch area where they perform rapid hops, short flights, and mechanical wing-snaps. Courtship involves raising the fiery crown and chasing brief circuits around the display perch. Nests are small cups suspended low in the understory. The female alone incubates and rears the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched ticks and seep notes, often interspersed with dry snaps produced by the wings. Display sequences include rapid ticking runs and buzzing trills that can be hard to locate in dense vegetation.
