Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise
| Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Passerimorphae |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Sub-order | Passeri |
| Family Information | |
| Superfamily | Passeroidea |
| Family | Paradisaeidae |
| Tribe Information | |
| Tribe | Paradisaeini |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Seleucidis |
| Species Information | |
| Species | S. melanoleuca |
| Population statistics | |
| Population | Unknown ()[1] |
| Conservation status | Least concern[2] |
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is a species of bird of the family Paradisaeidae, and found throughout much of New Guinea.
Description
The male bird is 13 inches long, and bisected in two contrasting colors. The front half, including wings, head, and upper chest and back are a velvety black, and marked above in purple iridescence; the rear half (excluding the black tail) is a bright, velvety yellow. During mating season the bird "fluffs" up, widening the yellow flanks, and spreading out a ruffle of chest feathers which are tipped in an iridescent green. To further gain the female's attention, the male prances before her with twelve thin, wire-like plumes jutting from the base of its tail, from which the species gets its name. The bill is long and tapered, the eyes are red, and the legs and feet are tan, and bare of feathers. The female bird brown above with a black head, and barred underparts.
Range and habitat
The species is found throughout much of both the north and south sides of the island of New Guinea, from sea level to an elevation of some 550 feet; it is not found at higher elevations within the central mountain range as other birds-of-paradise are. It is also found on the Indonesian island of Salawati, located immediately off the western end of New Guinea.
Threats
The species is listed as "least concern" by the ICUN, due to extensive range. However, a decline in numbers has been noted, and many areas of coastal habitat has been altered by human activity for logging, agriculture, and settlements.