Stephanie’s astrapia

The velvety black bird of paradise

gailhampshire

This distinctive bird of paradise is with two extraordinarily elongated, graduated purplish-black central tail feathers. Male with velvety jet-black plumage & chest band (bordered with thin golden stripe), an iridescent teal-green and purple head and bib. The female wears blackish-brown colors with black-barred, rufous underparts and has a long tail.

It is a bird of subalpine and mid to upper montane forests, including secondary growths and forest edges, logged forests found in east and central Papua New Guinea. Diet is predominantly fruits. Lek courtship display by a group of males with advertising calls and hopping around on perches is spectacular. Nest building and parental duties are managed by females alone.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Papua New Guinea
LC
2018
Breeding

Did you know?

  • Lack of correct population data is the major gap in population estimation.
  • Pressure from plume hunting and illegal trading may result in the extinction of this beautiful species if no conservation measures are applied in due time (now it is part of CITES II).

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No