Splendid Astrapia
Astrapia splendidissima
A long-tailed bird of montane forest. Black back and white base to the upper tail, more extensive in the male. Male has iridescent blue-green underparts, head and bib with rufous breast band and thin, rufous stripe down the side of the neck. Female has a black head and a barred belly. Feeds on fruit and searches for insects on mossy branches and epiphytes. Range of Ribbon-tailed Astrapia may just meet, but Splendid Astrapia female has white in the base of the upper tail. Call, a clicking sound.
Identification
The Splendid astrapia is a medium-sized bird-of-paradise species, and it is the smallest member of the Astrapia genus, with males averaging approximately 39 cm (around 15 in), the slightly smaller females coming in at 37 cm (14.6 in). The males probably have the most iridescent plumage of the Paradisaeidae family. The male's head to mantle is a shiny iridescent light bluish-green to yellow-green, while the chin throat is more of a metallic turquoise to shiny green, depending on lighting. Beneath the throat is a coppery-red gorget that tappers as it moves up the side of the breast, all the way to the eyes. The rest of the underparts are a silky dark-green, except for the lower tail-coverts, which is more of a light brownish colour. The upperparts, like the wings and back, are brown to darkish brown. The relatively long tail is made up of two long, white plumes with black spatulate tips with a violet iridescence, and the feathers beneath those are plain black. The drabber female has a dark brown to blackish head, lighter, dark brownish wings and back, dusky light brown underparts with heavy barring, and a similar tail to the male, but without a spatulate tip and a much more reduced amount of white on the upper tail. Subspecies helios is larger than splendidissima, male has a more blue than yellow-green crown, and larger spatulate tips on the longer two central feathers, and female has darker upperparts. They have dark-coloured eyes, lead-grey legs and bill, and dark grey claws.<p>Much like most of its family members, splendid astrapias make their own unique, though eccentric, vocalizations. A very distinguishable, insect-like "tik to-keet" note is produced by the birds with varying speed, and the "keet" portion sounding akin to a brief whistle; however they also make frog-like croaks, yelps composed of "wroo-wree woo" notes, and simple "teeks" and "toks".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Astrapia splendidissima
- Authority
- Rothschild, 1895
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Genus
- Astrapia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Widespread and common species throughout its range, the splendid astrapia is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Epinecrophylla haematonota
Scarce antwren found mainly in lowland rainforest, but ranges up into mountains in the northern part of its range. Male has mostly gray underparts, black-and-white spots on throat, and whitish or tan spots and bars on wings; back color varies geographically from brown to chestnut. Female is brown, lacks throat markings, and has less distinct wing markings. Dull brown tail distinguishes it from Rufous-tailed Stipplethroat. Male’s checkered throat and female’s lack of throat markings help separate it from Ornate Stipplethroat. Almost always encountered in mixed-species understory flocks with antshrikes and other antwrens. Song is a high-pitched, descending trill; also often gives a dry rattle.
White-necked Rockfowl
Picathartes gymnocephalus
A bizarre and unique ground-loving bird, large but slender, with long legs, tail, and neck and extensive yellow facial skin with large dark brown patches behind the eyes resembling earmuffs. Resident in lowland forest, hill forest, and secondary scrub where there are large boulders and caves inside the forest for them to use for nesting and roosting. Forages in pairs or groups on the forest floor, bouncing effortlessly through the undergrowth on strong legs and returning to rocks most nights to roost communally. Mostly silent, but makes low clucking and other soft contact calls.
Red Shoveler
Spatula platalea
Distinctive dabbling duck: combination of very large, slightly shovel-shaped black bill and and pale blue forewing patches (brighter on male) identify all plumages. Male has a pale gray head with pale yellow eyes and a “red” body with black spots. Female is mottled brown overall, but note white sides to pointed tail, big black bill. Fairly common in wetlands and at lakes, river mouths, and sewage lagoons. Unlike many dabbling ducks, often rather quiet.
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