The club-winged manakin (Machaeropterus deliciosus) is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.

Taxonomy and systematics

The club-winged manakin was originally described in 1860 as Pipra deliciosus. It was later moved to genus Machaeropterus that had been erected in 1854.

The club-winged manakin is monotypic.

Distribution and habitat

The club-winged manakin is found on the western slope of the Andes from Risaralda Department in west-central Colombia south into Ecuador to Pichincha Province with small populations also in El Oro and Loja provinces. It inhabits wet montane forest in the subtropical zone and also mature secondary woodland. In Colombia it ranges in elevation between and in Ecuador mostly between but locally lower.

Behavior

Movement

The club-winged manakin is a year-round resident, though some individuals in Ecuador move to lower elevations outside the breeding season.]]

Non-vocal sounds

Like several other manakins, the club-winged manakin produces a mechanical sound with its extremely modified secondary remiges, an effect known as sonation. The sound has been described as a "tip-tip-beeuwww" whose final note has a ringing quality. In order to withstand the repeated beating of its wings together, the club-winged manakin has evolved solid wing bones (by comparison, the bones of most birds are hollow, making flight easier). The solid wing bones, a result of sexual selection, are also present in female manakins, who do not benefit from the trait.

While this "spoon-and-washboard" anatomy is a well-known sound-producing apparatus in insects (see stridulation), it had not been well documented in vertebrates (some snakes stridulate too, but they do not have dedicated anatomical features for it).

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An analysis was made using high speed photography in 2005.-->

Status

The IUCN has assessed the club-winged manakin as being of Least Concern. It has a somewhat restricted range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.