Manakin à tête bleue Lepidothrix coronata

Chunky little bird found in the understory of lowland forest across much of South America east of the Andes. Male is all black with a blue crown in most areas, but in parts of eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and western Brazil his body is greener with a yellow belly and dark face. Female is lime green with a yellow belly. She is brighter green than females of most other manakins, but quite similar to several species; can be distinguished from Green Manakin by her short tail, and from females of Opal-crowned Manakin and Snow-capped Manakins by her darker eye. Female is also very similar to females of Blue-rumped Manakin and Cerulean-capped Manakin, but typically found at lower elevations. Usually seen alone in lower to middle levels of the rainforest, but several may congregate at a fruiting tree. Males give froglike “see-pur-wee” calls, and both sexes give well-spaced “sweet” calls. Formerly called Blue-crowned Manakin. Birds found in Central America, western Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador are now considered a separate species, Velvety Manakin.