Lesser Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea minor
A large bird of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Both sexes have yellow back and yellow eye. Male has a chestnut breast and white and yellow plumes which he raises above his back during his display, in which he flaps his chestnut wings. The male is distinguished from Greater by his yellow back and Emperor by his brown chest. Females distinguished from other species by their white underparts and black hood. Male gives a typical, repeated, nasal squawk.
Identification
The lesser bird-of-paradise is medium-sized, up to 32 cm (13 in), maroon-brown with a yellow crown and brownish-yellow upper back. The male has a dark emerald-green throat, a pair of long tail-wires and is adorned with ornamental flank plumes which are deep yellow at their base and fade outwards into white. The female is a maroon bird with a dark-brown head and whitish underparts. Further study is required, but it seems likely that birds-of-paradise also possess toxins in their skins, derived from their insect prey.<p>It resembles the larger greater bird-of-paradise, but the male of that species has a dark chest, whereas the female is entirely brown (no whitish underparts).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Paradisaea minor
- Authority
- Shaw, 1809
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Genus
- Paradisaea
Range and habitat
The lesser bird-of-paradise is distributed throughout forests of northern New Guinea, and the nearby islands of Misool and Yapen. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the lesser bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Onychognathus morio
A large glossy-black starling with a graduated, pointed tail and brick-red windows in the wings that are striking in flight. The male and female have black and gray heads respectively. Pairs and flocks prefer rocky outcrops and gorges, but have adapted to buildings in urban areas; they avoid forests. The species gives a characteristic loud liquid oriole-like “wher-teooo” contact call and other musical whistles and warbles. It is often the default “red-winged” starling within its range, where it is most easily confused with Slender-billed Starling, but the latter’s weaker bill and longer graduated tail identify it.
Rondonia Warbling-Antbird
Hypocnemis ochrogyna
A relatively small antbird. Males are heavily streaked black and white on the head and back with a lightly streaked breast, and rusty flanks and lower back. Females have a browner tinge to the head and back. Inhabits the understory of humid primary forest and old second growth, favoring tree fall gaps. Sometimes accompanies mixed-species flocks and regularly attends army-ant swarms. The song begins with a clear series of 4-6 notes and finishes with harsh notes.
Flores Crow
Corvus florensis
An entirely black crow confined to the island of Flores. Found in small, vocal parties within forest in lowlands and hills. Overlaps with Large-billed Crow, and similarly large-billed, but Flores Crow is smaller-bodied with a relatively smaller bill, and lacks the pronounced steep forehead characteristic of Large-billed Crow. Flores Crow is also a forest species, avoiding open habitats, and has a distinctive voice. Vocalizations are odd for a crow, including babylike, whining, high-pitched “waa” and “we-we-we” calls, the latter sometimes followed by a deep “kyop.” Also gives high “kraaa” notes, a throaty, disyllabic “kwiyou,” and other gurgling sounds.
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