Bulwer's pheasant

Araripe Manakin

is a wonderful bird, from the Passerine family, which comes to us from Brazil. Males and females have two completely different appearances, this is called dimorphism. The male is the more famous of the two. Its body is white, the wings and tail are black, and the upper part of the head and the back of the neck are decorated with a bright red color

. The female is olive green above and paler below. The species is still unknown. Discovered in 1996, it was only described in 1998: the first and only study currently being carried out on its subject by the IUCN classified it as critically endangered in 2012.

Home of Araripe manakin

Where do you find this bird?

Manakin Bockerman is a settler in northeastern Brazil, specifically Chapada de Araribi, a rocky formation in southern Ciara, 50 km long and 1 km wide.

The bird lives in the only tropical part of the dry forest whose moisture comes from streams flowing from the top of the plateau. It is estimated to be 28 square kilometers. Share it with other species visible there only, such as silver-cheeked batara. In fact, this biotype is a unique ecosystem and home to many endemic species.

Due to its recent discovery, investigations into the bird are still few. Forty-six nests were counted from 2004 to 2007, but the discovery of individuals in 2012 at another site in Chapada de Arrip indicates that the distribution of the population is greater than expected. At the end of 2010, an estimated 779 birds were birded.

Threats to Araripe Manakin

Due to its small distribution space, Araripe Manakin is very sensitive to changes in its environment. However, Chapada has for several years been the site of major disturbances.

In fact, the forest has been cleared to serve as agricultural areas, especially for banana, corn, beans and tomato crops. Deforestation has caused further damage. To feed these farms, the streams have been diverted. To accommodate agricultural workers, houses were built.

In addition, in 2000, the forest became a tourist area: a theme park and a swimming pool were created on the slopes of the rocky mass. However, they have been installed where the source of the rivers is located, causing the flow of water to decrease by 75%. An essential element of this bird.

Fires in 2004 and 2005 destroyed part of the forest with seven still occupying nests in The Bookerman Menakin. In 2010, a new fire hit the area and species again.