Serra do Mar tyrant-manakin

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The Serra do Mar tyrant-manakin (Neopelma chrysolophum) is a small bird found only in Brazil. Its scientific classification places it in the manakin family, but its exact genus is debated. It was first described in 1944 as a subspecies of Wied’s tyrant-manakin and was split off in 1995. Some lists keep it in genus Neopelma, while a 2023 paper led the South American Classification Committee to place it in its own genus, Protopelma. It has no subspecies.

Description
The bird is about 13 to 13.5 cm long and weighs around 13.5–14.9 g. Males and females look alike. Adults have a bright yellow patch on the crown. The rest of the face, upperparts, wings, and tail are olive-green. The throat is dull grayish white, the upper breast grayish olive, and the lower breast and belly pale sulphur-yellow. They have a pale grayish mauve iris, a gray bill, and gray legs.

Distribution and habitat
It lives along the Serra do Mar coastal forests of southeastern Brazil, from east-central Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro south to far southern São Paulo and possibly into Paraná. It prefers forest edges, dense secondary forest, and areas with stunted woody vegetation, and it avoids deep interior forest. It occurs at elevations of about 1,150–1,800 m. It is believed to be a year-round resident.

Diet and behavior
The bird mainly eats small fruits but also takes insects. It forages by plucking or grabbing food from vegetation with a short dive from a perch, sometimes hovering briefly. Males sing from a horizontal perch.

Breeding and song
Very little is known about its breeding. Its song consists of a series of random, well-separated notes.

Conservation
The Serra do Mar tyrant-manakin is listed as Least Concern. It has a limited range, and its population size is unknown but thought to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified, and much suitable habitat remains in protected areas within its range.