Despite its tiny size, this bird is incredibly striking, featuring a bright red forehead and a conspicuous stripe of the same vibrant color on its back.
Measuring only 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in length, the pin-tailed manakin, also known as Ilicura militaris, displays distinct features, particularly in adult males. These individuals showcase a vivid red fore-crown and rump with unique pigmentation. Their wings are black with secondary feathers exhibiting a vibrant green color, and their underparts exhibit a continuous white chest that extends from the rump, running beneath the bill and up to the throat. They possess forked tails, brown-black legs, and captivating yellow-orange eyes that complete their striking appearance.
The eastern coast of Brazil is the exclusive location where this species is found, as it is endemic to this region.
Pin-tailed manakin lives in the humid Atlantic Forest which extends from the state of Bahia to the state of Rio Grande Do Sul.
The Pin-tailed manakin is thought to be a primarily frugivorous bird, but it has been recorded consuming small amounts of insects from time to time.
During the breeding season, the male establishes a display area of 20 to 30 meters, called a lek, where he puts on a show for any potential mate. Within the lek is a mating perch which is around 3.3 to 20 meters above the ground. The female is drawn to the leg by his frequent “see” calls. Once a female is in the area the male will draw her to his mating perch and jump back and forth over her, sometimes making a snapping noise in the air, and fluffing out the vibrant red rump with his chin down when he lands facing her.
This species has a very large range and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion hence the species is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though it is under threat from deforestation.
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