FAMILY PIPRIDAE 317 



Figure 29. — Red-capped manakin, saltarin cabecicolorado, Pipra mcntalis 



ignifera. 



My observations of mating display are closely similar to those 

 recorded by others. Near Mandinga, eastern San Bias, on February 7, 

 1957, I found a group in high forest where the males alternately 

 moved actively about, or rested motionless for a minute or two until 

 roused again to activity. Certain branches from 15 to 25 millimeters 

 in diameter that grew transversely to the ground were chosen for 

 display. A male would dash in suddenly to alight on one of them, 

 stiflfen with the body posed at a 45° angle with the perch, and then 

 with rapid, mincing steps slide back and forth for a short distance 

 as though on a wire. At intervals a female alighted on one of these 

 display branches and rested quietly. Suddenly a male would dash 

 up, make a rapid turn or two barely missing her back, uttering a high- 

 pitched sound like that made by tearing cloth, and then rest with his 

 body turned away, with the feathers of the abdomen closely com- 

 pressed to display fully the bright yellow of his legs, while he 

 quivered both wings slightly. He would then dart away, and instantly 

 on returning repeat the action. Occasionally when he relaxed briefly 

 to normal perching position the female sidled over until the two rested 

 side by side, with wings nearly in contact. During the entire display 

 there was a steady background of crackling, popping sounds, pro- 

 duced, I assumed, by rattling the stiffened secondaries and rectrices. 



Alexander Skutch (Auk, 1949, pp. 1-24, plate) in detailed studies 



