Information About

Blue-backed Manakin




  Name Blue-backed Manakin
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Aves
  Ordo Passeriformes
  Familia Pipridae
  Genus '' Chiroxiphia ''
  Species '''''C pareola'''''
  Binomial ''Chiroxiphia pareola''
  Binomial Authority ( Linnaeus , 1766 )


The Blue-backed Manakin, ''Chiroxiphia pareola'', is a small Passerine Bird which breeds in tropical South America . It is found in southern Colombia , eastern Venezuela , Guyana , Brazil in the northeast and the Amazon basin, and in Tobago .

This Manakin is a fairly common bird of dry and moist deciduous forests, but not Rainforest . The female builds a twig nest in tree; two brown-mottled white Egg s are laid, and incubated entirely by the female for about 20 days.

Like other manakins, Blue-backed Manakin is a compact, brightly coloured forest bird, typically 13 cm long and weighing 19 g. The male is mainly black, with a red crown patch, bright blue back, and pale orange legs.

The female has olive-green upperparts, and somewhat paler olive underparts. Young males are olive, but show a red cap and the start of a blue back as they mature.

The race Endemic to Tobago, ''C. p. atlantica'' is larger and has more extensive red on the crown and blue on the back; it may be a separate species.

This species is similar to Lance-tailed Manakin , ''Chiroxiphia lanceolata'', which breeds further north from northern Venezuela to Costa Rica , but the latter has elongated central tail Feather s, and the male has a somewhat brighter blue back.

The male Blue-backed Manakin has a fascinating breeding display, unusual in that it is cooperative rather than competitive. Two males perch next to each other on a bare stick and jump up and down alternately, giving a buzzing call. When a female approaches, the perched bird moves backwards under the jumping bird, so the two perform a vertical circling movement. Groups of up to eight birds may perform together, with a different stick for each pair of displaying males.

Apart from the buzzing display song, Blue-backed Manakin has a number of other calls, including a ''whee-whee-CHUP'', sometimes given by two male in synchrony.

These manakins eat Fruit and some Insect s.


REFERENCES

  • ''Birds of Venezuela'' by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5

  • ''Birds of Trinidad and Tobago'' by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1

  • ''In pursuit of Pawi'' by Rymer (video) for display.



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