Blue-capped Manakin - BirdForum Opus

Male, notice the narrow black area separating the bill from the crown
Photo © by anselmo d affonseca
Serra do Tepequem, Amajari, Roraima, Brazil, July 29, 2012

Lepidothrix coronata

Identification

8–9 cm (3-3½ in)
A typical short-tailed manakin in shape and behavior.

• Iris brownish-red
• Mandible is blackish on upper and light grey on lower mandible

Male coronata type

• Crown bright blue
• Overall plumage black (often of a dull quality)
  • Blue wash on lower back/rump

Male exquisita type

• Crown pale blue
• Upperside, throat, and breast dark green
• Belly is yellow

Female

Female
Photo © by Lcverissimo
Manacapuru, AM, Brazil, September 2015

• Overall medium to dark green (often almost bluish-green)
• Belly pale
• Chin, throat, and side of head pale

Variation

The coronata types are essentially constituted by the first three subspecies, ranging from northern South America to northern Peru, while the exquisita type consists of the remaining three subspecies, from Peru to Bolivia and adjacent Brazil. These two forms seems to be interbreeding where they come into contact, and there is no consistent difference in voice.

Distribution

Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In all areas found east of the Andes.

Taxonomy

This species has in the past been placed in genus Pipra. Velvety Manakin and this species were formerly considered the same species under the name of Blue-crowned Manakin.

Subspecies

Six subspecies are recognized^[1]:

• L. c. caquetae:

• Tropical south-eastern Colombia (east of Andes in western Meta and western Caquetá)

• L. c. carbonata:

• South-eastern Colombia to northern Peru, southern Venezuela and northern Amazonian Brazil

• L. c. coronata:

• Tropical eastern Ecuador to north-eastern Peru and western Amazonian Brazil

• L. c. exquisita:

• Tropical eastern Peru (southern Loreto to Junín)

• L. c. caelestipileata:

• South-eastern Peru (Puno) and adjacent western Amazonian Brazil

• L. c. regalis:

• Tropical northern Bolivia south to Cochabamba

Habitat

Humid tropical forest, and mature secondary forest. observed at heights around 130m, though can occur up to 1400 m.

Behaviour

Males seems to display within their own territory rather than flock at a lekking site.

Diet

Their main diet consists of small fruits and insects, collected in hovering flight. They join mixed species foraging parties.

Vocalisation

The most frequent call is described as a "swee" sound, a rising whistle which may be given singly or as a series. Up to five other vocalizations have been described.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.1)_red. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
3. Snow, D. and G. M. Kirwan (2022). Blue-capped Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blcman1.01.1

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Blue-capped Manakin. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Blue-capped_Manakin

External Links

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