Wire-tailed ManakinPipra filicaudaWhere and when to see them

The Wire-tailed Manakin is a small forest bird famous for modified tail feathers and elaborate display. Cornell places it close to Crimson-hooded and Band-tailed Manakins. The Amazon association is specifically Rio Negro island forest in Anavilhanas National Park, where a trip report records both sexes; it is not evidence for all Amazon cruises. Species reference: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/witman2/cur/introduction

Size

Species-specific length not verified.

Weight

Species-specific weight not verified.

Lifespan

Species-specific lifespan not verified.

Status

Least Concern, as displayed by Cornell Birds of the World.

A published Venezuelan study describes dispersed lek territories and interactions between territorial, nonterritorial and immature males. Some males formed display partnerships, but most female visits were to single males. Cooperative displays were therefore not obligatory in that study. These findings should not be presented as observations made at Anavilhanas.

• Its tail feathers are highly modified.
• It was formerly placed in Teleonema.
• Cornell links it closely to two other Pipra species.
• Males maintain lek territories.
• Some males form display partnerships.
• Single males also receive female visits.
• Both sexes were reported on an Anavilhanas island.

The Anavilhanas record comes from a trip report and supports occurrence only. Neither that trip’s dates nor lek observations from Venezuela establish recurring local months. The array remains empty; guide knowledge can help with current access and quiet viewing.

Seasonally flooded lowland forest is documented in the Venezuelan research, while the local trip report concerns an Anavilhanas island. A close-range guided forest excursion is the relevant viewing method. Open river scanning is unlikely to provide adequate identification detail for such a small bird.

A directly retrieved species-specific dietary account was not verified. General statements about manakin fruit-eating should not be substituted for a documented Pipra filicauda food study. No Anavilhanas prey or fruit inventory is claimed here.

Common name

Wire-tailed Manakin

Scientific name

Pipra filicauda

Animal group

Birds

Size

Species-specific length not verified.

Weight

Species-specific weight not verified.

Lifespan

Species-specific lifespan not verified.

Status

Least Concern, as displayed by Cornell Birds of the World.

Identification

Adult males combine a red crown, dark upperparts and bright yellow underparts with distinctive wirelike tail extensions. Females are much less conspicuous. A brief greenish bird in the forest should not be confidently named without adequate supporting features.