The Wire-tailed Manakin is a small, sexually dimorphic Piprid, with males exhibiting unique wire-like extensions from their central tail feathers. Females are greenish.
Where to spot
Distributed in humid lowland and foothill forests of the Amazon basin, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.
How to spot
Look for males at leks in the forest understory, where they make buzzing sounds and perform complex displays. The wire-like tail is the definitive field mark.
When to spot
Active throughout the day, particularly during courtship season (varies by region). Observable year-round in its resident range.
Where to spot
Distributed in humid lowland and foothill forests of the Amazon basin, including parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.
How to spot
Look for males at leks in the forest understory, where they make buzzing sounds and perform complex displays. The wire-like tail is the definitive field mark.
When to spot
Active throughout the day, particularly during courtship season (varies by region). Observable year-round in its resident range.
Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
Credits:
Wikimedia Commons
The 'wires' of the male's tail are actually modified feather shafts, used in their distinctive courtship displays where they perform rapid leaps and glides.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Essential cookies are necessary for basic functionality, while analytical cookies help us understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it.
Cookie Preferences
Customize your privacy settings
Choose which cookies you want to allow. Necessary cookies are always enabled for the basic functionality of the website. You can always change your preferences later via the cookie settings in the footer.
Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.
Analytics Cookies
Help us understand how visitors use our website, so we can improve it.