The Serra do Mar tyrant-manakin, also known as the Serra do Mar neopelma and Serra tyrant-manakin, is a species of bird in the family Pipridae, the manakins. It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Southeast Brazil (Atlantic Forest)
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Serra do Mar escarpments of southeastern Brazil, inhabiting humid evergreen and montane Atlantic Forest. It favors dense understory, bamboo thickets, vine tangles, and forest edges within well-forested landscapes. The species is typically found in interior forest but can appear in secondary growth if structure is suitable. It is patchily distributed and sensitive to heavy fragmentation, preferring larger, continuous tracts.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Serra do Mar tyrant-manakin is a small, shy understory bird of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, confined largely to the Serra do Mar range. Unlike the more showy manakins, males of this genus often have subdued plumage with a small, sometimes concealed yellow crown patch. It forages quietly, gleaning insects and plucking small fruits in dense foliage. Habitat loss and fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest are its primary long-term threats.
Temperament
shy and retiring
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through the understory
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks briefly while foraging. Courtship is modest for a manakin, with simple displays and calls rather than elaborate leks. Nests are small cups placed low to mid-level in dense vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A quiet series of thin, high-pitched whistles and tseep notes, often delivered from concealed perches. Calls include soft ticks and short trills that can be hard to localize in dense forest.
