Crimson-hooded Manakin Pipra aureola Scientific name definitions

The Crimson-hooded Manakin is the northeasternmost representative of the genus Pipra, although the species ranges south and west from the eastern Guianan Shield to south-central Amazonia. This species forms a superspecies with the Band-tailed Manakin (Pipra fasciicauda) and the Wire-tailed Manakin (Pipra filicauda), all of which replace each other geographically, and they are united by their similar plumage, vocalisations and displays, while recent genetic data suggest that these three species might be the sole representatives of the genus Pipra. The male is a stunningly beautiful bird, which has the crown to breast crimson-red, a variable orange-yellow forehead band merging almost imperceptibly into the red of the ear coverts, while the rest of the body, the wings and tail are velvety black. The Crimson-hooded Manakin is principally found in swampy and seasonally flooded forests, as well as tangled gallery woodland along watercourses and dry to moist semideciduous woodland in hilly areas.

11 cm; 14–18·5 g. Male nominate race has orange-yellow on face and throat; otherwise, foreparts to upper mantle and lower breast crimson; rest of plumage black, except for creamy to whitish thighs and some reddish or orange on vent; barbs of secondaries stiff and shafts thickened; iris white or whitish; bill blackish, paler grey below, and palest along cutting edges; legs pink or purplish-pink. Differs from P. fasciicauda in more extensively crimson foreparts, mainly black belly and vent, lack of white in tail. Female is dull olive-green, yellowish-tinged on lores, throat and in diffuse streaks on breast ; greyer below, palest on belly; iris pale grey. Immature male resembles female, but iris dark. Races vary mainly in width and definition of yellow frontal band: flavicollis differs from nominate in having yellow frontal band narrow and more clearly demarcated from crown, yellow extending farther down throat; borbae differs from previous in yellow on forehead being much broader, extending farther back and merging with red of crown, tail shorter; aurantiicollis has very narrow yellow frontal band not sharply defined, rather deep yellow throat.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Swampy and seasonally flooded forest (várzea), tangled woodland along watercourses, undergrowth of secondary forest, locally mangroves; also white-sand campina forest in Brazil (Amapá). Mostly below 300 m; at 1200 m near Cerro Roraima, in Venezuela.

Resident; dominant males sedentary.

Small fruits, especially of species of Araceae, also insects and spiders. Items plucked or snatched in aerial sallies from nearby perch.

Main call of male a plaintive, somewhat drawn-out “eeeeew”, also sharper, double “chee-weep”. In flight display male makes two wing noises, a soft “poop” at lowest point of flight, and a click on landing.

Egg-laying in Feb–Mar in Guyana, Oct and Mar–May in Surinam and Oct–May in French Guiana. Male performs complex lek display with others, with co-ordinated alternating display-flights; only dominant (older) male mates with visiting females . Nest a small open cup slung in fork of shrub, c. 1 m above ground. Clutch 2 eggs; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Rather uncommon over much of range; locally abundant in Guianan coastal areas.