The Blue-Crowned Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata) is a striking bird from the Pipridae family, known for its vibrant appearance and unique behaviors. Found in tropical regions, this species enchants bird enthusiasts with its bright blue crown and the contrast of its black body feathers.
Some subspecies also display green plumage, though the connection between these color variations and subspecies is still a mystery.
Male Blue-Crowned Manakins are small, weighing between 8.5 and 9.5 grams. Females are slightly larger, with weights ranging from 8.5 to 11.5 grams. These birds inhabit areas from Costa Rica to Peru, Bolivia, and parts of Brazil, where they thrive in various environments.
The Blue-Crowned Manakin typically lives in the understory of tropical rainforests, but it also adapts well to mature second-growth forests. These birds can be found at altitudes ranging from sea level to 1,400 meters.
During their breeding season, which runs from February to June, male Blue-Crowned Manakins gather in groups to perform courtship displays known as lekking. After mating, the males no longer participate, leaving the females to handle nesting duties.
Females build small cup-shaped nests from fine plant fibers, leaves, and moss, placing them in the forks of branches up to two meters off the ground.
They lay two eggs, white with reddish-brown spots, and incubate them for 18 to 19 days. The young birds leave the nest around 15 days after hatching, ready to start their own life in the wild.
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