Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) lives in lowland rainforest and swamp across New Guinea. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise
- Male twelve-wired birds sport twelve black, wire-like filaments that curve back near their bases before sweeping forward over the hindquarters. These strands emerge from the rear of the bright yellow flank plumes and are described as blackish in colour. The male also displays a striking red iris, a long black bill and rich yellow plumes along his flanks, giving the wires a vivid contrast against his velvet black body.
- During courtship the male performs a wire-wipe display, choosing an exposed vertical perch and flaring his breast-shield while showing off his flank plumes and bare pigmented thighs. He uses the twelve wire-like flank plumes to make direct contact, brushing the female's face and foreparts.
- It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Seleucidis, meaning no other species share its genus. The bird inhabits lowland and swamp forests, favouring the dense habitats of New Guinea and Salawati Island in Indonesia, where it feeds mainly on fruit and arthropods and also consumes frogs, insects and nectar.
- Breeding this species in captivity has proved difficult, with the first successful programme only achieved at Singapore's Jurong Bird Park in 2001. Despite this, the species is not considered threatened, being listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and on Appendix II of CITES.
- The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise measures about 33 cm in length and is strikingly coloured in velvet black with bright yellow flank plumes. Males also show a red iris, a long black bill and the distinctive twelve blackish wire-like filaments that sweep over the hindquarters. It lives in lowland and swamp forests of New Guinea and Salawati Island, where it feeds mainly on fruit and arthropods, occasionally adding frogs, insects and nectar to its diet.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNew Guinea
HabitatLowland rainforest and swamp
DietFruits and insects
About the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise
In the emerald depths of the rainforest, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise unfurls its resplendent plumage, a vision of iridescent blues and yellows that seems almost otherworldly. As it moves through the dense undergrowth, its long, wire-like feathers trailing behind it like a bridal veil, this extraordinary creature exudes an aura of quiet confidence, its every step a testament to the mesmerizing beauty of evolution. With each deliberate, almost languid movement, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise weaves a spell of enchantment, its very presence a reminder of the secrets and wonders that still await us in the uncharted recesses of the natural world.
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