Preformative molt, plumage maturation, and age criteria for 7 species of manakins

Abstract

We developed aging criteria for 7 species of manakins (Pipridae) from the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru, based on patterns of plumage maturation and wing-feather replacement following their preformative molt, and summarize information on their morphological characteristics. Each species underwent a partial preformative molt, which could be identified using the presence of molt limits in the greater coverts. Some male Band-tailed Manakin (Pipra fasciicauda), Round-tailed Manakin (Ceratopipra chloromeros), Cerulean-capped Manakin (Lepidothrix coeruleocapilla), and Yungas Manakin (Chiroxiphia boliviana) showed evidence of delayed plumage maturation, allowing for age classification up to the third annual cycle, whereas Blue-crowned Manakin (L. coronata caelestipileata), Fiery-capped Manakin (Machaeropterus pyrocephalus), and Green Manakin (Cryptopipo holochlora viridor) appeared to attain definitive plumage after their second molt cycle. Morphometrics showed strong overlap and were less useful for separation of age and sex classes. Our findings add to the growing list of studies that suggest many tropical passerines can be aged using primarily molt limits. Data on molt and plumage maturation are still needed for the vast majority of tropical birds in order to inform conservation-based research and studies of avian life history.