An incredibly stunning white bird adorned in a striking red crown is known as the Araripe Manakin.
The aptly named Araripe Manakin, also known as Aptilophia bokermanni, is a bird species that is currently facing critical endangerment. Like most manakins, the males and females display a strong sexual dimorphism in their plumage color. These relatively large, long-tailed birds measure approximately 14.5 centimeters (5.7 inches) in total length. The strikingly patterned males have mostly white plumage, with the exception of their black wings and tail, as well as their red feather crown with a frontal tuft. Their mid-back area is also red.
The colored part of our eye, also known as the iris, has a reddish tint. When it comes to female specimens, they mostly have an olive-green color with a lighter abdomen and a smaller olive-green tuft at the front above their beak.
In Brazil, this bird can only be found in a limited area at the bottom of the Chapada do Araripe in southern Ceara. Typically, they are seen in pairs.
The Araripe Manakin’s natural habitat is limited to a humid forest located on the banks of a river. This area is also known as a “gallery” forest that is nourished by streams originating from springs at the base of the Araripe Plateau. These streams flow into arid landscapes, such as dry shrublands and thorn forests, which surround the riverbank forests.
These birds consume a diverse range of fruit found in the thick understory and coexist with other Brazilian endemics like the Cordia species in their habitat.
The araripe Manakin has a pesting period that seems to coincide with the rainy season, which lasts approximately 6 months. This species has an annual reproductive capacity of 2 fledglings. Instances of fewer pests were observed in areas with less rainfall, fragmented forest areas, and areas with higher rates of human activity. Only female birds provided parental care throughout all pesting stages, and no differences were found in parental investment between pests with 1 or 2 nestlings.
In the year 2000, a water park with swimming pools and paved roads was constructed in the Nascente do Farias locality, resulting in the destruction of the majority of its original habitat. The trees that were cleared were replaced with banana plantations. As of August 7th, 2018, the last assessed population estimated that 150-700 mature individuals are living in Brazil.
