Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata Scientific name definitions

The Helmeted Manakin is found in gallery forest from central Brazil to northeastern Bolivia and Paraguay.  The male Helmeted Manakin is a striking bird: the plumage is almost entirely black, except for a bright red upper back, crown, and "helmet" (an erect tuft of feathers on the forecrown). The female is much less distinctive, being olive above and slightly paler olive below, but she also has a small frontal crest, and like the male is relatively long-tailed.  The genus Antilophia is closely related to Chiroxiphia, and hybrids between the two have been reported. Male Helmeted Manakins have solitary displays, however, unlike the often cooperative displays often seen in Chiroxophia.

13·9–14·5 cm; male 18–26·5 g, female 18·8–26·2 g. Distinctively crested manakin with rather long and narrow tail. Male has red forehead to back , with showy erect frontal crest; rest of plumage black ; iris dark brown; bill dark; legs pinkish. Female is olive above, with smaller frontal crest, slightly duller and paler below  . Juvenile resembles female.

• Helmeted x Blue-backed Manakin (hybrid) Antilophia galeata x Chiroxiphia pareola
• Helmeted x Swallow-tailed Manakin (hybrid) Antilophia galeata x Chiroxiphia caudata

Tableland of C & S Brazil (S from C Maranhão, to S Mato Grosso, W Paraná and N São Paulo), just entering NE Bolivia (NE Santa Cruz) and NE Paraguay.

Fruit and insects, taken in aerial sallies. In a study in the Brazilian Cerrado fruits  of 16 plants recorded, mostly Rubiaceae and Melastomataceae (1 Silva, A.M. and de Melo, C. (2011). Frugivory and seed dispersal by the Helmeted Manakin (Antilophia galeata) in forests of Brazilian Cerrado. Ornitología Neotropical. 22: 69 –77. Close ). Regularly accompanies mixed-species flocks.

Male call a series of fast, rich musical notes with rollicking cadence, with many variations; throaty “wreee pur”, first note rising, given by both sexes.

Egg-laying in Aug–Dec, mainly Sept–Nov. Nest a shallow cup made from fine twigs, rootlets and leaves, with hanging leaves on outside, suspended 0·5–10 m above ground in horizontal fork of tree or shrub. Clutch 2 eggs  ; no information on incubation and fledging periods.