The yellow-crested manakin, also called the yellow-crowned manakin, is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela)
Typical Environment
Primarily inhabits river-edge forests, including seasonally flooded várzea and igapó, as well as early successional vegetation on river islands. It stays in the understory to midstory, often near fruiting shrubs and small trees. The species is closely associated with blackwater and whitewater river systems and the shifting mosaic of young riverine forests. It often occurs in small groups or near leks within these riparian corridors.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Males gather at small leks where they perform rapid hops and wing-snaps to attract females. The bright yellow crown is a key visual signal during displays in the dim understory. This species favors dynamic river-edge habitats that shift with seasonal flooding, making it closely tied to Amazonian river cycles.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick dashes through the understory
Social Behavior
A lekking species: males display on favored perches, performing hops, bows, and wing-snaps to court females. Nests are small cups placed low to mid-level in dense river-edge vegetation. Pairs are formed only for breeding, with females alone handling nesting and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, high-pitched trills and thin whistles that carry short distances in dense foliage. Males also produce distinctive mechanical snaps with their wings during display, often interspersed with brief notes.
Plumage
Male with a striking bright yellow crown/crest contrasting with darker olive to blackish upperparts and olive underparts; female is overall olive-green with a duller crown area. Feathers are sleek, with subtle pale edging on the wings. Compact, short-tailed silhouette typical of manakins.
Diet
Primarily consumes small fruits and berries from understory shrubs and small trees. It occasionally supplements its diet with small arthropods gleaned from foliage or taken in short sallies. Foraging is methodical, moving perch-to-perch and plucking ripe fruits.
Preferred Environment
Feeds along river margins, young secondary growth, and seasonally flooded forests where fruiting plants are abundant. Often visits mixed-species fruiting trees and may forage near leks.
