This bird is absolutely gorgeous with its pure white feathers and a bold red crown perched atop its head.
The Araripe manakin, scientifically known as Antilophia bokermanni, is a bird that is classified as critically endangered. It exhibits a distinct sexual dimorphism in the color of its plumage, which is typical of most manakins. These birds are relatively large and have long tails, measuring about 14.5 centimeters or 5.7 inches in total length. The male Araripe manakins are particularly striking with their white feathers, black wings and tail, and red feather crown with a frontal tuft. Additionally, their mid-back area is also colored in red.
The female members of this species are typically olive green in color, with a lighter-colored abdomen and a smaller frontal tuft above the bill that is also olive green.
The bird species in Brazil can only be found within a limited range situated at the lower part of Chapada do Araripe in southern Ceara. These birds are commonly sighted in pairs.
The Araripe manakin is a bird that can only be found in a specific type of forest by a riverbank. This forest is called a “gallery” forest and is kept humid by streams that come from nearby springs at the base of the Araripe Plateau. Surrounding these riverbank forests is a dry shrubland and thorn forest known as caatinga.
These feathered creatures nourish themselves from a diverse range of fruits that grow in the thick understory, coexisting with other native species like the Cordia family.
The Araripe Manakin tends to breed during the rainy season, which lasts for about half a year, and produces an average of two offspring per year. Researchers have discovered that there are fewer nests during periods of low rainfall, in areas where the forest is broken up, and in areas with high levels of human activity. Interestingly, only female Araripe Manakins provide parental care during all stages of nesting, and there was no significant difference in how much effort they put into caring for nests with one or two newborns. Check out this video to see these unique birds in action!