Manakin Duets of Dance and Song May Foreshadow Hybrid Offspring
A new study has found that both dance and vocal similarity, tempered by evolutionary distance, influence hybridisation in these charismatic Neotropical birds
Background: Courtship as a Barrier – or a Bridge – Between Species
Manakins (Pipridae), a family of vividly plumed Neotropical birds, are famed for their elaborate lekking displays. Males combine acrobatic dance moves with distinctive calls and even mechanical wing-snaps in an effort to attract females. Such courtship displays are not just spectacles – they are key behavioural traits that can help maintain species boundaries. However, when species share similar display styles or songs, the risk of hybridisation can rise, potentially blurring those boundaries.
Hybridisation in birds can have far-reaching evolutionary consequences – from genetic introgression to the creation of new hybrid species – and in manakins it appears unusually frequent. Around 31% of the family’s 55 species have reliable hybrid records, far above the average for birds.
The Study: Testing the Predictors of Hybridisation
Researchers from Wageningen University examined 53 manakin species, 17 of which are known to hybridise, to determine whether similarities in courtship vocalisations, dance routines, or both could predict hybridisation likelihood. They used high-quality recordings from xeno-canto and the Macaulay Library, measuring variables such as peak frequency, pace, and bandwidth, and scored the presence of non-vocal mechanical sounds. Dance similarities were scored based on shared behavioural elements.
By comparing these traits across sympatric or parapatric species pairs and factoring in divergence times (how long ago species split evolutionarily), the team tested which factors best explained hybridisation patterns.
Key Findings: A Complex Interplay
Similarity in courtship vocalisations did predict hybridisation, but the effect was strongly moderated by divergence time – closely related species with similar songs were most likely to hybridise. Dance similarity showed a parallel pattern. Surprisingly, combining dance and vocal similarities into a single ‘multimodal’ measure did not outperform using either measure alone.
Statistical modelling revealed that divergence time alone was often the strongest single predictor. The most hybrid-prone species pairs were both behaviourally similar and evolutionarily close – for example, Manacus vitellinus with Manacus candei or M. manacus.
Why No Clear Winner Between Dance and Song?
The study suggests that dance and vocal traits may follow similar evolutionary pathways. Some traits, such as pace and bandwidth, seem to evolve towards optimal values, while others, like peak frequency, change with each speciation event. Both types of courtship signal likely act as robust behavioural barriers – unless the species are so closely related that those barriers have not fully developed.
Plumage ornamentation, another major aspect of manakin courtship, was not included in the analysis but may also influence hybridisation. The authors recommend future work combining dance, song, and plumage to get a fuller picture.
Implications: Beyond Manakins
These findings add to our understanding of how behavioural traits interact with evolutionary history to shape hybridisation risk. They also point to similar research opportunities in other lekking birds, such as grouse or birds-of-paradise, where elaborate multimodal courtship is common.
Ultimately, this work underscores that in the manakin world, courtship can both keep species apart and, under the right circumstances, bring them together – shaping the evolutionary tapestry of the Neotropics.
August 2025
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