About Masius chrysopterus (Lafresnaye, 1843)
The golden-winged manakin (scientific name Masius chrysopterus (Lafresnaye, 1843)) is approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) long and weighs between 9.0 and 13.5 g (0.32 to 0.48 oz). This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. Adult males have a bright golden-yellow plush forecrown with feathers that curve forward over the bill. Short black plumes on either side of the forecrown project upward like "horns". The rest of their plumage is mostly black, with an orange-red patch on the hindcrown, a golden-yellow patch on the throat, and entirely yellow primaries, secondaries, and outermost tail feathers. Adult females are mostly olive-green, with yellow-olive throats, bellies, and wing linings, and lack the showy forecrown feathers that males have. The five subspecies of the golden-winged manakin differ from the nominate subspecies and one another in appearance: M. c. bellus males have a red rear crown patch. M. c. pax males have darker yellow coloring on the throat, wings, and tail, with a red or flame orange rear crown and nape; M. c. pax females have a darker yellow throat. M. c. coronulatus males have reddish brown coloring on the rear crown and nape. M. c. peruvianus males have deeper, richer yellow coloring on the throat, wings, and tail, with a darker red rear crown and nape; M. c. peruvianus females have slightly richer olive green upperparts and more yellowish olive underparts. Individuals of both sexes across all subspecies have a dark brown iris, a pinkish gray bill, and purplish pink legs and feet. The golden-winged manakin has a disjunct distribution, with each subspecies occupying a distinct range: M. c. bellus is found in western Colombia, from the west side of the Western Andes north of Cauca Department east to the west side of the Central Andes. M. c. pax is found along the east side of Colombia's Eastern Andes starting from Cundinamarca Department, extending south along the east side of the Andes in Ecuador to northern Zamora-Chinchipe Province. M. c. coronulatus ranges along the west side of Colombia's Western Andes from Cauca Department south along the west side of the Andes in Ecuador to Loja Province. The nominate subspecies M. c. chrysopterus occurs in Venezuela on the east side of the Andes from Táchira and Barinas southward, and on the west side from Mérida southward, continuing across both sides of Colombia's eastern Andes to Boyacá Department and the east side of the Central Andes. M. c. peruvianus ranges along the Andes from southern Zamora-Chinchipe south into Peru to Cajamarca Department on the west side, with a separate population in San Martín Department on the east side. The golden-winged manakin inhabits wet montane cloudforest, and will also forage in clearings and forest edges. Its elevation range varies by country: it occurs between 1,000 and 2,100 m (3,300 and 6,900 ft) in Venezuela, between 600 and 2,400 m (2,000 and 7,900 ft) in Colombia, mostly between 800 and 2,000 m (2,600 and 6,600 ft) in Ecuador (locally lower in western Ecuador), and between 1,200 and 2,000 m (3,900 and 6,600 ft) in Peru.
