Red-headed Manakin recorded for the first time at REGUA

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At the end of March 2026, a new bird species was recorded in the areas of the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA). The sighting was made by bird guide and author of the book Birds of Southeast Brazil, available for purchase at the Reserve, Daniel Mello, who was walking along one of the trails when he was surprised by an unfamiliar call coming from the forest. The sound came from a bird that had never previously been recorded in the area: the Red-headed Manakin (Ceratopipra rubrocapilla).

Belonging to the Pipridae family, the species is also known by several common names in Brazil, including uirapuru, maria-lenço, irapuru, atangará, tangará-de-cabeça-vermelha, tangará-de-cabeça-encarnada, patuqueira and dançador-de-cabeça-encarnada. Its scientific name, Ceratopipra rubrocapilla, refers to the bird's characteristics and can be interpreted as “small horned bird with a red head”.

Measuring around 10 centimetres in length, the Red-headed Manakin displays marked differences between the sexes. The male, weighing between 10.9 and 13.8 grams, has glossy black plumage contrasting with a red head. The female, weighing between 12.7 and 16.6 grams, has olive-green upperparts and greyer underparts, becoming yellowish on the belly.

The species feeds mainly on small fruits, including those produced by native Atlantic Forest trees such as grumixama and cabeludinha. By consuming these fruits and carrying their seeds, it contributes to the regeneration and dispersal of several plant species throughout the forest. The Red-headed Manakin mainly inhabits the middle and lower layers of forests. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the species is classified as Least Concern. Although it has been recorded in the Atlantic Forest and parts of the Amazon, its occurrence in the state of Rio de Janeiro remains relatively restricted.

Until 2025, the species had been recorded in only seven municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The new record at REGUA expands this picture and reinforces the importance of restoring and conserving lowland forests in the Guapiaçu River basin, in Cachoeiras de Macacu.

For the REGUA team, the sighting represents much more than the addition of a new species to the Reserve's bird list. It is also a sign of the results achieved through 25 years of continuous conservation, restoration and Atlantic Forest protection. During this period, more than one million native seedlings have been planted, helping to restore degraded areas and provide suitable habitat for wildlife.

The Red-headed Manakin was subsequently observed on two other occasions by visitors and birdwatchers Duarte Nunes and Daniel Brites, who also had the opportunity to record the species at REGUA.

According to Daniel Mello, the bird's presence may be an important indicator of the recovery of the region's forests: “The arrival of the Red-headed Manakin is a very positive sign that the lowland forests are recovering well and creating connections (corridors) with the forests of Silva Jardim and Casimiro de Abreu, which hold the largest populations of this species in the region. It is quite possible that sightings of this species will become increasingly common at REGUA and in its immediate surroundings as these lowland forests continue to be restored.”