The Moonwalking Bird
Male red-capped manakins perform a rapid 'moonwalk' — sliding backwards along branches so fast it looks like they're gliding.
Long before Michael Jackson made the moonwalk famous, red-capped manakins were doing it in the forests of Central America.
Male manakins perform an extraordinary courtship display that includes: 1. Rapid backward slides along a branch (the "moonwalk") 2. Lightning-fast wing snaps that produce loud sounds 3. Hopping between perches at incredible speed 4. Beard-puffing (yes, they have little feathered beards)
The moonwalk happens so fast that it's nearly impossible to see without slow-motion video. The bird appears to glide backwards smoothly, but he's actually taking rapid tiny steps in reverse.
How fast? About 50 steps per second. For comparison, hummingbird wingbeats are around 50-80 per second.
Male manakins spend months perfecting their routines on specially cleared display courts. They: - Clear leaves and debris from their stage - Practice moves repeatedly - Sometimes perform for each other before females arrive - Get better with experience (young males are clumsy)
Females visit multiple males and are extremely picky. A male might display for years without mating once. Those who do succeed can father offspring with multiple females in a season.
The energy investment is enormous. Males put so much into displays that they've evolved smaller digestive systems compared to females — they eat less so they can be lighter and faster.
Research suggests male manakins with the best coordination also have the best cognitive abilities — the dance is honest advertising of brain quality.