Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is a medium-sized bird-of-paradise about 33cm-long. The male has a red iris, black shoulders and wings, a long black bill and rich yellow plumes along its sides and stomach. From the rear of these plumes come twelve blackish, wire-like filaments, which bend back near their bases to sweep forward over the birds hindquarters.
| Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise | |
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| Genus: | Seleucidis Lesson, 1835 |
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| Seleucidis melanoleucus | |
The female is a brown bird with black-barred buffy underparts. Its feet are strong, large-clawed and pink in color.
It is the only species in the monotypic genus Seleucidis. The male displays on an exposed vertical perch with its breast-shield flared. They eat fruits and arthropods.
The bird is found in lowland forests, New Guinea and Salawati Island of Irian Jaya.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Seleucidis melanoleucus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 1 November 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
