GLOSSY MANTLED MANUCODE - A BIRD OF PARADISE


Plumage variation between the sexes is closely related to breeding system. The manucodes and paradise-crow, which are socially monogamous, are sexually monomorphic. So are the two species of Paradigalla, which are polygamous. All these species have generally black plumage with varying amounts of green and blue iridescence. The female plumage of the dimorphic species is typically drab to blend in with their habitat, unlike the bright attractive colours found on the males. Younger males of these species have female-like plumage, and sexual maturity takes a long time, with the full adult plumage not being obtained for up to seven years. This affords the younger males the protection from predators of more subdued colours, and also reduces hostility from adult males.

The glossy-mantled manucode (Manucodia ater) is a species of bird-of-paradise. 

The glossy-mantled manucode was the first bird of paradise encountered by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson, the first westerner to see live wild birds of paradise. 

It is widely distributed throughout the lowlands of New Guinea and nearby islands. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the glossy-mantled manucode is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. San Diego Zoo has the only captive individual of this species outside of New Guinea. 

The glossy-mantled manucode live in lowland rainforest, riverine and monsoon forests, forest edge, swamp-forest and woodlands. 

The glossy-mantled manucode is medium-sized, around 42 cm long, glossed green, blue and purple black with a red iris, black bill, long graduated tail and somewhat elongated upper breast and neck feathers. Both sexes are similar. The female is a slightly smaller than the male. In appearance, the glossy-mantled manucode resembles and is difficult to distinguished from its nearest relatives, the crinkle-collared and jobi manucodes. 

These birds have diurnal habits. They tend to move alone or in pairs, rarely in small groups: They spend most of their time looking for food among the branches of trees, ready to hide themselves in the thick vegetation when disturbed. They are not particularly timid, but it is easier to hear their calls or flights rather than observe them directly. The diet consists mainly of fruits, figs and arthropods.
- Takes from Wikipedia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BLUE BIRD OF PARADISE

Image
The  blue bird-of-paradise  ( Paradisaea rudolphi ) is a medium-sized  bird-of-paradise . Regarded  by some ornithologists as the loveliest of all birds, the blue bird-of-paradise was discovered by Carl Hunstein in 1884. The scientific name commemorates the ill-fated Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria.   Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, small population size and, in some areas, by hunting for its highly prized plumes, the rare blue bird-of-paradise is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. The species is approximately 30 cm long, black with a bluish-white bill, dark brown iris, grey legs, broken white eye-ring and bright blue wings. The male is adorned with violet blue and cinnamon flank plumes and two long ribbon-like tail feathers. The female has a chestnut brown below. The male is polygamous and performs a breathtaking courtship display. But unlike all other  birds of Paradise species , he pe
Read more

WESTERN PAROTIA - BIRD OF PARADISE

Image
For many years the birds-of-paradise were treated as being closely related to the  bowerbirds . Today while both are treated as being part of the Australasian lineage  Corvida , the two are now thought to be only distantly related. The closest evolutionary relatives of the birds-of-paradise are the crow and jay family  Corvidae , the monarch flycatchers  Monarchidae  and the Australian mudnesters  Struthideidae . The  western  or  Arfak parotia  ( Parotia sefilata ), is a medium-sized, approximately 33 cm long,  bird-of-paradise  with a medium-length tail. Like other birds-of-paradise, the western parotia is  sexually dimorphic . The male has black plumage with an  iridescent   structurally coloured  golden-green breast shield and  triangular  silver feathers on its crown. It is adorned with elongated black plumes at the sides of the breast and three  erectile   spatulate  head wires behind each eye. As with most member in the  family , the female is unadorned and has bro
Read more