Lance-tailed Manakin Chiroxiphia lanceolata Scientific name definitions

The Lance-tailed Manakin has modified central tail feathers, in both sexes, but these are distinctly less remarkable than those of the entirely allopatric Long-tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia linearis). Nevertheless, males are equally unmistakable given the lack of geographical overlap with any of the other ‘blue-backed’ manakins. This manakin ranges from southern Central America, in southwest Costa Rica, to northern South America, where it ranges as far east as northeast Venezuela, and is also found on the offshore island of Margarita. It inhabits all types of woodland with a reasonably open understory, and both dry and more humid semi-deciduous forest. It is also able to tolerate scrubby patches of secondary woodland in semi-open country. In comparison to some of its congenerics, this species’ complex courtship rituals, in which two or more males display cooperatively have been little studied to date.

Pacific coastal region of extreme SW Costa Rica and Panama (including Coiba I and Cébaco I), N Colombia along Caribbean coast (including around Santa Marta and Perijá Ranges), and N Venezuela N of R Orinoco (E, including Margarita I, to Paria Peninsula); also locally in middle Magdalena Valley in Colombia (Tolima, Cundinamarca).

Aug–Sept in Panama. Male displays low down on slender horizontal stems, where joined by a subordinate male, the two alternately making fluttering upward leaps and short flights; only dominant male mates with female. Nest a small shallow cup of grass and leaf fibres, slung c. 1 m above ground in horizontal forked twig of low bush, with dead leaves forming exterior covering and hanging loosely from sides and bottom. Clutch 2 eggs; incubation and fledging periods not documented. In a study in Panama monitoring nests with video cameras, one nest fledged young (2) and six other nests failed due to predation (by Psarocolius decumanus, Rupornis magnirostris, Cyanocorax affinis and Didelphis virginianus) (2 Reidy, J.L. (2009). Nest predators of Lance-tailed Manakins on Isla Boca Brava, Panamá. J. Field Orn. 80: 115-118. Close ).  

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common to locally common; common throughout N Venezuela. Relatively wide habitat tolerance should ensure its survival. Present in several protected areas, e.g. Tayrona National Park (Colombia), and Henri Pittier and Guatopo National Parks (Venezuela).