Brazilian name: Soldadinho-do-araripe
October 2008
The Araripe Manakin is endemic to a very
small ribbon of forest at the foot of the Chapada do Araripe
escarpment. It seems particularly fond of the moist forest near
the streams and springs that flow out of the escarpment.
Unfortunately, this supply of water also generates the biggest
threat to the species because the area is a bit of an oasis in
the cerrado of the region and the supply of water has led to the
development of both agriculture and recreational facilities.
The species is classified as Critically
Endangered by Birdlife International . It is estimated that
there are only about 250 individuals left.
Despite its flamboyant appearance, it was described as recently as 1998. This is doubly strange since the top of the escarpment has been a well-visited birding area for many years. Locals had reported a red, white and black bird but this had been dismissed as a probable cardinal.
The male is similar to the Helmeted Manakin A. galeata but the latter is all black with the red crest, crown and mantle. The female, seen here in photos 5 and 6, is probably indistinguishable from the female Helmeted Manakin .
It feeds on small fruits and photo 3 shows it regurgitating a fruit seed.
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