Male Helmeted Manakins (Antilophia galeata) with more colorful crowns have better body conditions

Bird plumage coloration is an important signal used in communication and may indicate individual fitness. We tested the hypothesis that coloration is related to body condition in male Helmeted Manakins (Antilophia galeata). Fourteen adult males were captured in a forest fragment in Brazilian Cerrado from November 2007 to June 2008. Crown feather coloration (brightness, hue, and saturation) was evaluated through spectrophotometry, and body condition was measured via the Relative Mass Index (RMI). Coloration characteristics were positively correlated with body condition, indicating that individuals with higher body conditions have brighter and more saturated feathers, and therefore, can use these traits to signal their good body condition.