The orange-collared manakin is a passerine bird in the manakin family. It is an endemic resident breeder in Costa Rica and western Panama, where it is found in forests, secondary growth and plantations. It is a small, plump bird about 10 centimetres (4 in) long. Males have a black crown, mid back, wings and tail and an olive-green rump. The rest of the head, neck, breast and upper back are orange, and the belly is yellow. Females are olive-green with yellow underparts and resemble female white-collared manakins. At breeding time, males are involved in lekking behaviour on the forest floor. This is a fairly common species with a somewhat restricted range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Region
Southern Central America
Typical Environment
Found on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and into western Panama, mainly in humid lowland and foothill forests. It occupies forest understory, edges, secondary growth, and shaded plantations such as cacao. Birds often frequent streamside thickets and light gaps with fruiting shrubs. It tolerates moderate disturbance if dense understory remains. Leks are typically placed on flat, shaded patches of forest floor with sparse ground cover.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The orange-collared manakin is a small, plump understory bird of Pacific-slope forests in Costa Rica and western Panama. Males perform elaborate lek displays on small cleared courts on the forest floor, producing rapid wing-snaps and short bounding flights to attract females. Females build the nest and raise the young alone. Despite its limited range, it remains fairly common where suitable forest and second growth persist.
Male in Carara National Park, Costa Rica
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Males gather in leks where each maintains a small cleared court on the forest floor. Courtship involves rapid jumps, short dashes, and loud mechanical wing-snaps to attract visiting females. The species is polygynous; males provide no parental care, while females build a small cup nest low in shrubs and rear the young alone.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include thin ticks and soft whistles, interspersed with prominent mechanical snaps and claps produced by the wings. Display sequences often feature bursts of rapid snaps followed by brief pauses.
