The orange-crested manakin, or orange-crowned manakin, is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Colombia.
Region
Western Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland humid rainforest of Brazil (western Amazon), Ecuador, Peru, and possibly southern Colombia. It favors dense understory of terra firme and seasonally flooded (várzea) forests, as well as river edges, light gaps, and secondary growth. Birds are most often encountered near the forest floor to midstory in shaded thickets. It tends to avoid heavily disturbed open areas but will use regenerating forest with sufficient cover.
Altitude Range
0–600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The orange-crested (orange-crowned) manakin is a small, understory bird of the western Amazon that forms leks where males perform energetic displays with wing snaps and short flights. Females alone build the nest and rear the young. It can be confused with the closely related yellow-crowned manakin but males are told by the vivid orange crown. Like many manakins, it relies heavily on small rainforest fruits and helps disperse seeds.
Illustration by Joseph Smit, 1881
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Males gather at small leks where each defends a tiny display perch and performs hops, short flights, and wing snaps to attract females. Pair bonds are brief; females conduct nest-building and chick-rearing alone. Nests are small cups suspended low in dense vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched whistles interspersed with rapid ticking notes. Display often includes sharp, mechanical wing snaps typical of manakins.
Plumage
Male is olive-green with a striking bright orange crown/crest; underparts slightly paler olive. Female is duller olive throughout with a faint yellowish wash below and lacks the vivid crown. Both sexes have short, broad-based bills suited to fruit plucking.
Diet
Primarily small fruits and berries taken from understory shrubs and saplings. It also gleans or hawks occasional small insects for protein, especially during breeding. By swallowing fruits whole, it aids in seed dispersal throughout the forest.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in shaded understory and lower midstory, often along forest edges, vine tangles, and near fruiting shrubs. Will visit light gaps and riverine thickets where fruit is abundant.
