Orange-bellied Manakin

About the Orange-bellied Manakin

The orange-bellied manakin (Lepidothrix suavissima), also known as the tepui manakin, is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela. The orange-bellied manakin was originally described in 1882 as Pipra suavissima. By the late 1900s genus Lepidothrix was recognized as separate from Pipra and several species including the orange-bellied manakin were assigned to it.

The orange-bellied manakin was for a time in the mid-twentieth century treated as subspecies of the white-fronted manakin (then Pipra serena, now L. serena). The two have very similar plumage. The orange-bellied manakin is monotypic.

The orange-bellied manakin is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long; one male weighed 8.5 g (0.30 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males have a white forecrown, a bright azure-blue lower rump and uppertail coverts, and a yellow-orange belly. The rest of their plumage is black. Adult females have a bluish forehead, a grayish face and throat, and a yellow belly and undertail coverts. The rest of their plumage is green. Both sexes have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and grayish to almost black legs and feet... Wikipedia →