There are countless amazing birds out there, all with their own fascinating characteristics and striking appearances. But did you know that the sheer variety of bird species in the world is even more impressive than you might have thought? Let me take a moment to introduce you to one particularly interesting bird – the golden-collared manakin.
The Golden-collared Manakin, scientifically known as Manacus Vitellinus, is a small avian creature characterized by a sturdy physique and diminutive tail. Its wings are broad and rounded, its head is large, and its legs are reddish-orange in color. The male of the species flaunts a gorgeous golden-yellow collar and throat adorned with long, firm feathers. Its body is mostly black, save for olive-colored patches on its back, rump, and lower underparts. In contrast, the female has an upper body painted in a dreary olive-green hue that gradually fades to a paler, more yellowish tone on its lower regions. What makes this bird species unique is its heavily modified wing feathers that enable it to produce snapping and buzzing sounds.
In this article, we will be exploring the behavior and characteristics of the Golden-collared manakin, a tiny bird that measures around 4-4.3 inches (10-11 cm) in length. These birds have a weight of about 0.68 ounces (19.3 gr) for males and 0.6 ounces (17 gr) for females. The males of this species clear leaf litter from the ground to create display areas or courts where they can court females. During courtship, the male performs an impressive dance to attract the female’s attention. Their diet mainly consists of fruit and insects, which they pluck while flying and feed while perched low in the trees.
Male mahaкиs have impressive abilities to showcase their colorful feathers to catch the attention of female partners and keep predators away. Their dance moves involve gliding on branches, similar to a moonwalk, while using their wings and feathers to create intriguing buzzing and humming sounds. Interestingly, male mahaкиs also perform a backward moonwalk on the branches as part of their courtship display.
The male birds of this particular type produce a variety of sounds. They have lengthy feathers that look like a beard around their throat area. These feathers can bunch together, creating a finger-like projection parallel to their beak. The birds move quickly between branches and make a popping sound, similar to a firecracker, by flapping their wings. They also have the ability to produce a gentler sound that resembles either “chee-poo” or “pee-yoo.”
The male members of a certain species have an interesting tradition of flaunting their pear-shaped bodies to each other. This display takes place in a forest clearing, utilizing one or two slender trees as their stage. Meanwhile, the female selects her mate by creating a small nest made of plant fibers and animal hair close to the ground.
Following the reproductive process, the responsibility of egg care lies solely on the female. To conceal them and make them blend in with dead foliage, the eggs are often tinted with darker shades like deep brown. The female takes up to 24 days to incubate the eggs before the hatchlings emerge. At that point, the newborns are fed a combination of chewed-up fruit and seeds by the mother for at least ten days until they can soar independently.
It is typical for juvenile animals to follow their mothers closely for at least a month before becoming independent. This species thrives in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama’s wet lowland forests and has adapted to second-growth forests and human-disturbed areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers this animal as the least concerned species on their Red List.
