Pin-tailed manakin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pin-tailed manakin |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ilicura
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| Species: |
militaris
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| Range of the pin-tailed manakin shown in green. | |
The pin-tailed manakin (Ilicura militaris) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the manakin family, called Pipridae. You can only find this bird along the eastern coast of Brazil. It lives in the wet Atlantic Forest, from the State of Bahia down to Rio Grande Do Sul.
This manakin is the only species in its group, called Ilicura. There are no different types or subspecies of it. Pin-tailed manakins are small birds, and the males and females look very different. This is called sexual dimorphism.
Male pin-tailed manakins have a bright white neck, chest, and sides of their head. Their wings are black and dark green. They have a special tail that looks like a pin, with a small fork at the end. This is how they got their name! The males are easy to spot because of their bright red forehead and back.
Female pin-tailed manakins are mostly a dull green color. Their neck and the sides of their head are light gray, and their chest is a creamy color. Both male and female birds have a slightly long head shape. This makes their forehead look a bit raised.
The pin-tailed manakin's calls are quiet. They sound like a high-pitched "see-see-see" that goes down in tone.
Not much research has been done on this bird. We don't know a lot about its daily life or how it raises its young. The pin-tailed manakin mainly eats fruit. Sometimes, it also eats a few insects. Scientists think this bird can change special colors from its food into a rare red color for its feathers. This red color is called rhodoxanthin.
Pin-tailed manakins have a fancy way of finding a mate, called lekking. They likely breed between November and February. These birds do not migrate, meaning they stay in the same area all year. Their conservation status is currently "least concern," which means they are not in immediate danger. However, their numbers might be going down.
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About the Pin-tailed Manakin
The pin-tailed manakin is the only species in its group, Ilicura. There are no known subspecies. This bird was first named in 1850 by a German scientist named Ludwig Reichenbach.
The English name "pin-tailed manakin" comes from its unique tail shape. The scientific name, Ilicura militaris, also describes its tail. "Ilicura" comes from words that mean "holly tree" and "tail." This is because the tail feathers look like the sharp thorns of holly leaves. "Militaris" might refer to the pointed look of the tail.
In Brazil, this bird is often called Tangarazinho. It also has other local names like saira-ilicuria and "rainbow tangara."
What Does the Pin-tailed Manakin Look Like?
Male pin-tailed manakins are about 12.5 centimeters (5 inches) long. Females are a bit smaller, around 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long.
Adult males and females look very different. Young males and females look similar, so it can be hard to tell them apart until the males get their adult colors.
All pin-tailed manakins share some features:
- A tail that forks at the very end.
- A slightly long forehead.
- Brownish-black legs.
- Bright yellow-orange eyes.
Adult male pin-tailed manakins have a slightly longer tail. They have a very special bright red forehead and back. Their wings are black with green parts. Their chest is white and extends all the way to their tail feathers.
Females are mostly olive-green. Their neck and the sides of their head are gray. Their chest is a creamy color, extending to their tail feathers.
Pin-tailed Manakin Sounds
The calls of this bird are usually very quiet, but they are high-pitched. Their songs sound like "see-see-see" and go down in tone. They usually make 3 to 8 "see" sounds. Birdwatchers enjoy trying to find this bird because its quiet calls make it hard to track in the forest.
Where Do Pin-tailed Manakins Live?
The pin-tailed manakin lives only in Brazil. It lives in the Atlantic Forest from the State of Bahia down to Rio Grande Do Sul. Its natural homes are wet lowland forests and wet mountain forests.
These birds are not seen very often. They spend their time in the lower and middle parts of the rainforest trees. Their nests are shaped like a cup. They usually hold 2 to 3 eggs.
Scientists don't know exactly how many of these birds there are or where all their groups live. Some pin-tailed manakins have been found in a place called Nova Veneza. This area is further inland than where they were thought to live before. This means their home range might be larger than we thought!
Pin-tailed Manakin Behavior
What Do Pin-tailed Manakins Eat?
Pin-tailed manakins mostly eat small berries. They have also been seen eating a few small insects. Like most manakins, they swallow their food whole.
They often feed at the edges of forests. They eat from small fruit trees and bushes. Some fruits they commonly eat are from the yellow magnolia and chickweed plants. They grab food by diving and snatching it from the air. They don't usually sit on the plant to pick berries.
Pin-tailed Manakin Reproduction
Scientists believe the pin-tailed manakin is a solitary bird. This is especially true during breeding season. Males create special areas to show off for females.
Male pin-tailed manakins make whirring and snapping noises with their wings when they fly. A male will claim an area about 20 to 30 meters (65 to 100 feet) wide. This area includes a display spot called a "lek" and a special mating perch. These areas are separate from other males' areas, but close enough for them to hear each other.
Males "garden" their display area. They pick up leaves, twigs, and other plants until the ground is completely clear. They also clear the space above their mating perch. This might be to make their feathers look brighter or to give them room for their display jumps.
Unlike other manakins, the pin-tailed manakin's mating perch is not on the ground. It's usually about 3.3 to 20 meters (10 to 65 feet) above the ground. Females are attracted to the male's display area by his repeated "see" calls. These calls get quieter and lower in pitch throughout the day.
Once a female is nearby, the male will lead her to his mating perch. He will jump back and forth over her. Sometimes he makes a snapping noise in the air. When he lands facing her, he puffs out his bright red back and puts his chin down. After the snapping sound, he often makes a special "weep" sound.
Young males, who don't have their full adult colors yet, will visit other males' display sites. They do this to practice their own displays and dances.
Pin-tailed Manakin Status
The pin-tailed manakin is not considered globally endangered. However, it is uncommon to fairly uncommon in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists it as "Least Concern."
We don't know the exact number of these birds. But scientists think their population might be decreasing. This is likely due to their habitat being destroyed. More research is needed to know their true conservation status.
Images for kids
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A male pin-tailed manakin showing its bright red head and white chest.
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Map showing the range of the pin-tailed manakin in green.
