The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin (Neopelma sulphureiventer) is a species of bird in the family Pipridae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, D. F. Lane, L, N. Naka, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 29 September 2025. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. South American Classification Committee associated with the International Ornithological Union. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved September 29, 2025
Taxonomy and systematics
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin was originally described as Scotothorus sulphureiventer. Hellmayr notes similarities between his species and Neolpelma aurifrons (Wied's tyrant-manakin), presaging its later move to that genus. It was later reassigned to genus Neopelma that had been erected in 1860.
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin is monotypic.
Description
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin is long and weighs . The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a partially hidden, pale sulphur-yellow stripe on the crown. The rest of their face and their upperparts are dull olive-green. Their wings and tail are a slightly browner olive-green. Their throat is dull grayish white, their upper breast grayish olive, and their lower breast and belly pale sulphur-yellow. They have a pale grayish to creamy or orange-brown iris, a brownish and longish bill, and grayish legs and feet.Snow, D. (2020). Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin (Neopelma sulphureiventer), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sbtman1.01 retrieved October 17, 2025
Distribution and habitat
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin is a bird of the far western Amazon Basin. One population separate from its main range is found in Peru's Loreto and San Martín departments. Its contiguous range begins in Peru's extreme eastern Cuzco Department and continues east through Ucayali and Madre de Dios departments. From there it continues east into western Brazil's Acre, Amazonas, and Rondônia states. Its range also continues southeast through the northern half of Bolivia. There are also a few widely scattered records in other Brazilian states.
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin inhabits humid evergreen forest, especially along rivers with large thickets of bamboo. The separate population in Peru also inhabits semi-deciduous scrublands. In elevation in Peru it mostly occurs below but locally reaches . In Brazil it occurs below .
Behavior Movement
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin is believed to be a year-round resident.
Feeding
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin's diet and foraging behavior have not been studied but it is believed to feed mostly on insects and some fruit as well.
Breeding
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin's breeding season appears to span at least from June to October. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.
Vocalization
The sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin's calls include "a squeaky dueek or duet in short series [and] a scratchy series of djurt or djurit notes".
Status
The IUCN has assessed the sulphur-bellied tyrant-manakin as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered uncommon and local in Peru and rare to uncommon in Brazil. It occurs in at least two protected areas in Peru.
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