Curl-crested Manucode
Manucodia comrii
A large, crow-sized bird of wooded habitats on the southeast islands. Black overall with blue iridescence on the shoulder, and purple on the flight feathers and tail. Note the distinctive, dorsally-flattened tail with folded tips and feathered bulge on the head. The only other manucode in range is Trumpet Manucode, but Curl-crested lacks the loose feathers around the neck. Similar size to Torresian Crow but Curl-crested has a dark eye. Song, a remarkable, descending series of hollow notes given while tilting backwards, then rolling its whole body up and over.
Identification
Manucodia comrii has a compact and large body approximately 43 cm long, with glossy purple, black and green plumage, red iris and crinkled yellowish-green upper breast and neck feathers. It has curled head feathering and twisted central tail feathers. Both sexes are similar with a slightly smaller female.<p>The curl-crested manucode is the largest species of manucode, and also the largest and heaviest species in its family in terms of body size, weighing up to 450 grams though its tail is shorter than the black sicklebill.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Manucodia comrii
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1876
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Genus
- Manucodia
Range and habitat
Endemic to Papua New Guinea, the curl-crested manucode is distributed to the Trobriand Islands and islands of the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago.<p>A common species in its limited habitat range, the curl-crested manucode is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. These birds mainly live in the upper montane rainforest, forest edges and woodland, but also in the wooded savannah, in parks and gardens.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Ecuadorian Tyrannulet
Phylloscartes gualaquizae
Small, warbler-like flycatcher found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador, northern Peru, and southern Colombia. Plumage is yellow-olive with a gray crown, yellowish wingbars, white eyebrow, and black stripe through the eye. Facial pattern is not well-defined, imparting a “messy” look. Also note thin, black bill. Forages actively in the forest canopy, frequently giving a dry, sputtering trill, and is almost always encountered with mixed-species flocks.
Wattled Brushturkey
Aepypodius arfakianus
A large, black ground bird of montane rainforests. Bare facial skin is pale-blue in the male and dull gray in the female. Red wattles on the head and chest are reduced in the female. Very shy and difficult to see. Roams the forest floor, scraping leaves to uncover fallen fruit, seeds and invertebrates. Similar to other brushturkeys but Wattled has a vertically-flattened tail with maroon rump and darker legs. Usually quiet but can give a sharp series of “ki! kekekekekeke” with the first note higher.
Green-headed Oriole
Oriolus chlorocephalus
Old World oriole with mostly yellow plumage, a dull-green hood, and a red bill. Found in forest, forest edge, lush woodland, and adjacent secondary habitats, at low and middle elevations. Song is a series of slurred, liquid whistles, and calls include a raspy, up-slurred whine. Similar to African Black-headed Oriole, but with a good view, easily separated by the green rather than black hood. Often found in the same areas as Eurasian Golden and African Golden Orioles, but distinguished by being hooded rather than yellow-headed.
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