4 Photo Spot

Blue caudata

The Blue (or -tailed) Manakin a-a-a. As the display progresses, the jumps be­ Chiroxiphia caudata, illustrated on the front come flatter with the males approaching the and back covers, is one of five in the female more closely, such that one early ob­ genus Chiroxiphia which geographically re­ server of the dance described the males as place each other from southern Mexico to “queuing to kiss the female”2. This joint dis­ eastern Paraguay. It is found in humid forests play finishes when the dominant male jumps in eastern , north-eastern and but turns to face the other males and whilst eastern Paraguay. Throughout its range it is hovering in front of them utters a shrill eek- a relatively common and its call is one of eek-eek. Soon after this the other males leave the characteristic sounds of the forest. Blue the perch, and the dominant male proceeds mostly occur below 1500 m; north with a solo display which consists of laboured of Rio de Janeiro, where its range overlaps “butterfly” flights from and around the display with Blue-backed Manakin C. pareola, Blue perch. If the female is sufficiently excited, Manakin is found only above 500 m, whereas copulation then follows on the display perch. Blue-backed occurs only in the lowlands. With rare exception, only the dominant The genus Chiroxiphia is unusual among male copulates in any one perch zone. Domi­ the Pipridae in that teams of males cooperate nance is largely age-based, so with such in joint dance-displays for females. In the Blue limited opportunities for present reproductive Manakin a group of males use several dance success it pays young males to follow strate­ perches communally. Within the group, an age- gies which ensure long-term survival and based linear dominance hierarchy exists. The eventual ascent to dominant male status. Such dominant male acts as a sentinel, calling re­ strategic responses include cooperation and peatedly from a high perch above the display delayed maturation. In Blue Mana­ area. This call, a chorreeo or chorreeo-cho-cho- kins it takes a minimum of two years from cho is a characteristic sound in the forests of the post-juvenile moult for males to acquire eastern Paraguay, and serves to attract fe­ the definitive male plumage. The preceding males to the display area, and occasionally is pre-definitive are age-specific tran­ given by two males in duet. sitional stages between the all green juvenile If a female arrives, the dominant male and plumage and the definitive male plumage. one or two (occasionally more) males descend First, the red cap is acquired, then the black to the dance perch (usually a horizontal vine face and throat, wings and tail, and finally the within 1.5 m of the ground) and perform a co­ remaining green plumage is replaced by blue. operative precopulatory dance. During this Females of all ages are green, though some dance, the female perches at one end of the show red in the crown; the extent of this per­ vine, whilst the males perch along the vine, haps increases with age. orientated towards the female. The dance be­ The breeding season of Blue Manakins in gins with the male nearest to the female Paraguay extends from late July through to jumping up and flying toward her, briefly hov­ January, with a peak of activity in September ering in front and then flying to the back of to November. Only the female is involved in the line of males and taking the position origi­ nest-related and brood-rearing duties. The nally occupied by the bird farthest from the nest is a fibrous cup placed in a fork in a small female. Meanwhile, the other males have all sapling usually between knee and head height. moved one place forward. Each bird, in turn, Clutch size is usually two. Manakins are repeats this movement, describing a circular largely frugivorous, but do occasionally eat path in front of the female. These backward insects, and especially feed them to nestlings cartwheels are accompanied by a twangy qua- within the first few days of hatching.

80 COTINGA 4 Photo Spot Apart from personal observations in Paraguay, the above information comes from the work of Dr Mercedes Foster with Blue Manakins, also in Paraguay1.

References 1. Foster, M. S. (1981) Cooperative behaviour IGUAZU BIRD TOURS and social organisation in the Swallow­ Ing. Eppens 251, loB, tailed Manakin (Chiroxiphia caudata). (33701 Puerto Iguazú, ARGENTINA Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 9: 167–177. Fax: (541) 639 6054 2. Snow, D. W. (1976) The web of adaptation: bird studies in the American tropics. New Make the most of your visit to the Iguazú York: Quadrangle/New York Times Book area with expert guides. We provide hotel Co. pick-up service and transport to rare bird stake-outs throughout Misiones province Rob Clay (Argentina) and adjacent Paraná (Brazil) Large Research Group, Department of with access permits onto private and rest­ Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing ricted areas. Million-candlepower flood­ Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K. light for night birding (recommended Sep– Nov) and all on tape. Fax or write with intended dates and we will suggest an optimum itinerary at an economic cost. Hit lists welcome.

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