Western Parotia

Common name

Western Parotia

Scientific name

Parotia sefilata

Etymology

Parotia (Greek, curl of hair by the ear, alluding to plumes on head); sefilata (Latin, possessing six threads, in reference to plumes on head); common name notes geographical position relative to other members of the genus.

Description

Sexually dimorphic. Adult male, 33 cm; female, 30 cm. Adult male entirely jet black except for white stripe across forehead, intense iridescent emerald green to greenish-yellow breast shield and three plumes like wires with expanded ends above and behind each eye. Adult female with black head, mottled throat and facial stripe, drab brown upperparts and tail, and barred underparts.

Diet

Fruits and arthropods.

Habitat

Mid montane forests and well-established secondary forests; 1100-1900m.

Courtship

Polygynous. Display season early August-late October. Presumed that males display seasonally in terrestrial courts in exploded leks. Male perches above court, flicking wings and fanning tail. Dropping to court he stretches upwards and raises his flank feathers into ‘skirt’, which is maintained as he dances around court, moving head plumes; interspersed is static posture while raising and lowering his body; finally lunges across court with plumage sleeked and head forward and horizontal to ground.

Breeding

Female builds and attends nest alone; no information on breeding season incubation.

Status and conservation

Not presently threatened; restricted range but common.

Distribution

Indonesia: West Papua: Vogelkop (Tamrau and Arfak Mountains) and Wandammen Peninsula (Wondiwoi Mountains).