Introducing a delightful small bird with a distinct vest pattern in red and white.
The Machaeropterus striolatus, also known as the western striped manakin, is a bird belonging to the Pipridae family. This avian species boasts an exquisite visual appeal with its short tails and strikingly striolated stripes that are perfectly synchronized. The male bird has an olive upper body and a crimson head and neck. Its secondaries are larger and have white tips, and its tail is firmly pulled in. The top breast displays a broken red band, and the underparts are prominently lined. The tail, on the other hand, is light gray in color.
The upper part of the female is completely olive in color while the lower part is a dull white shade. The breast and sides have a light olive hue with faint, white streaks on the breast’s sides.
The Striolated Manakin bird can only be spotted in certain regions of South America, specifically the western and northern parts. These areas include northern Peru, western Brazil, eastern Ecuador, and Colombia, extending to western Venezuela and southern Venezuela’s Tepui area. While there was one sighting in western Guyana in the 1800s, this bird is not commonly found in that region.
These feathered creatures enjoy making their homes in the damp forests’ lower and middle levels, with a particular preference for terra firma and fully grown secondary woodland. They may also venture out to the forest edges from time to time.
Fruits are the main sustenance of these creatures, although they also feed on insects that they capture while dashing around and flitting about.
Similar to other species of manakins, male birds do not have any responsibilities related to nesting. They instead partake in lek displays, where individuals gather but cannot see or hear one another. These shows usually occur on low hills and involve a small group of males, ranging from three to 11 birds. If a female is present at the lek site, the males will shift their behavior to a series of short, vertical jumps accompanied by vibrating wing movements using modified secondaries. Additionally, they make buzzing notes that sound like insects. Each male has a set of preferred perches from which they intermittently call throughout the day. The females are responsible for raising the chicks, but there is limited information available about their behavior.
The IUCN Red List categorizes this species as being at a lower risk of endangerment.