The white-bearded manakin is a small passerine bird which breeds in tropical South America. It can be found in Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia and northern Argentina. This manakin is found in forests, secondary growth and plantations. It is a small, plump bird about 10.7 centimetres (4.2 in) long. Males have a black crown, upper back, wings and tail and are otherwise white. Females are olive-green and resemble female golden-headed manakins. At breeding time, males are involved in lekking behaviour on the forest floor during which they puff out their neck feathers. This is a fairly common species with a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Region
Northern South America and Trinidad
Typical Environment
Found from Colombia and Venezuela through the Guianas and northern Brazil, south through Amazonia into Bolivia and locally into northern Argentina, and on Trinidad. It inhabits lowland and foothill evergreen forest, gallery forest, and moist secondary growth. The species is common along forest edges, in thickets, and in shaded plantations. Males establish display courts on flat patches of leaf litter in the understory. It avoids open, treeless habitats but readily uses regenerating forest and older cacao or mixed-fruit plantations.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Males clear tiny display courts on the forest floor and perform rapid hops and wing-snaps, puffing their distinctive white beard during lek displays. The snapping sounds are produced by modified wing feathers. Females alone build the nest and raise the young. This species adapts well to forest edges and secondary growth, which helps keep its populations stable.
Female on nest in Brazil
Temperament
secretive in the understory, highly active at leks
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick darting flights
Social Behavior
Males are polygynous and gather in leks where each maintains a small, cleared court for display. Displays include rapid side-to-side hops, body pivots, and loud wing-snaps performed to attract visiting females. Females select mates at the lek, then nest and rear young alone in a small cup nest placed low in shrubs or saplings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are simple ticks and short notes, but the display is dominated by sharp mechanical snaps and pops from the wings. Males also give soft buzzes and wheezy calls during close-range displays.
