White-collared Manakin

The White-collared Manakin, Manacus candei, is a small, plump passerine bird, a member of the vibrant manakin family. It measures approximately 11 centimeters in length and weighs around 18.5 grams. The males are particularly striking with their black and white plumage, olive-green rump, and bright yellow belly.

Identification Tips

Adult males can be identified by their black crown, wings, and tail, a distinctive black band across the mid-back, and a white head, neck, breast, and upper back. Their rump is olive-green, and their belly is a vivid yellow. The wings of the male are uniquely adapted for their courtship displays, with outer primaries narrowed and inner primaries thickened. Females and juveniles are olive-green with yellow bellies, resembling the female Orange-collared Manakin, though the two species do not share a range.

Habitat

The White-collared Manakin favors the thickets on the edges of moist forests, tall secondary growth, and old cacao plantations. It thrives in the lowlands and foothills up to 700 meters on the Caribbean slope.

Distribution

This species is a resident breeder from southeastern Mexico to Costa Rica and the extreme western parts of Panama. It is replaced on the Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and Panama by its close relatives, the Orange-collared and Golden-collared Manakins.

Behaviour

The White-collared Manakin is known for its remarkable lekking behavior, where males perform an elaborate dance on the forest floor, puffing out their neck feathers and snapping their wings to attract females. They are solitary feeders, plucking fruit and insects from the foliage in flight.

Song & Calls

The male's vocalization is a rolled "preew," accompanied by a loud snap, akin to a breaking twig, and various rustling sounds produced by their modified wings.

Breeding

During the breeding season, males clear patches of forest floor for display courts and engage in competitive displays. Females lay two brown-speckled white eggs in a shallow cup nest, with incubation and chick-rearing solely the female's responsibility.

Similar Species

The White-collared Manakin can be confused with the female Orange-collared Manakin, but they can be distinguished by their respective ranges, as they do not overlap.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of fruit and some insects, which they forage for in the lower strata of the trees.

Conservation Status

The White-collared Manakin is classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, with a stable population trend and a wide range, indicating no immediate threats to its survival.