Goldie's Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea decora
A large bird of foothill forests on the southeast islands. Both sexes have a yellow head and yellow eye. Male has a gray chest and red plumes which he raises over his back during the display, in which he flaps his yellow wings and hops. Females have yellow upperparts, barred underparts and a black face. Doesn’t overlap with any other similar birds-of-paradise. Male gives a typical, repeated, nasal squawk.
Identification
Goldie's bird-of-paradise is large, approximately 33 cm long, and olive-brown. The male has a yellow and dark green plumage with a lavender grey breast, yellow iris and grey colored bill, mouth and feet. It is adorned with large crimson ornamental flank plumes and two long tail wires. The male is distinguished from other Paradisaea species by its lavender grey breast plumage. Unadorned female has an olive-brown plumage with cinnamon-brown below.
Taxonomy
Genus: Paradisaea; Family: Paradisaeidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Paradisaea decora
- Authority
- Salvin & Godman, 1883
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Genus
- Paradisaea
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Spizaetus tyrannus
Uncommon, spectacular, crested eagle of lowland tropical forest. Most frequently seen soaring in mid-late morning; rarely seen perched. Gives loud, far-carrying whistles while flying, which often indicate its presence. Adult is black overall with bold white checkering under the wings and bold white bands on the tail. Immatures, although rarely seen, are browner with a white throat and crown. The short bushy crest is usually apparent only on perched birds and is not seen in flight.
White-collared Starling
Grafisia torquata
The male is an unusual and beautiful starling that is glossy blue-black with a broad white collar. Females are duller, gray with paler mottling on the underparts. Both sexes have a yellow-orange eye. Found locally in savanna, montane grassland, and areas with a mix of savanna and forest. Often in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other starling species. The male is unmistakable; the female might be confused with other starlings, but is identified by the gray plumage without gloss, the short tail, and the yellow-orange eye. The calls include chirps and short whistles.
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa
Distinctive gamebird of farmland, grassy fields, and open heathland. Seen mainly as pairs and small groups, often along the edges of fields. Plumage is ornate and handsome, with a red bill, white throat, black streaked necklace, boldly barred flanks, and buffy belly. Other similar species (such as Chukar) do not overlap in native range, but can escape from collections or be introduced for hunting; all lack the diagnostic black-streaked necklace of Red-legged. Song is a dry, rasping “wa-cha-cha-wa-cha-cha” or “wi’ch-ch’ch.”
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