Glossy-mantled manucode
| Glossy-mantled manucode | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Paradisaeidae |
| Genus: | Manucodia |
| Species: | M. ater
|
| Binomial name | |
| Manucodia ater (Lesson, 1830)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The glossy-mantled manucode (Manucodia ater) is a species of bird-of-paradise.
Taxonomy
The glossy-mantled manucode was formerly described in 1830 as Phonygama ater by the French naturalist René Lesson based on a specimen collected near Dorey (now Manokwari), on the northwest coast of New Guinea.[2][3] The specific epithet ater is Latin meaning "black", "dark", "dull" or "matt black".[4] The glossy-mantled manucode is now placed in the genus Manucodia that was introduced in 1783 by Pieter Boddaert.[5]
Two subspecies are recognised:[5]
- M. a. ater (Lesson, RP, 1830) – New Guinea including west Papuan and Aru Islands
- M. a. alter Rothschild, LW & Hartert, EJO, 1903 – Tagula Island (Louisiade Archipelago, off southeastern New Guinea)
The subspecies M. a. alter has sometimes been considered as a separate species, the Tagula manucode.[6]
Distribution and habitat
It is widely distributed throughout the lowlands of New Guinea and nearby islands. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the glossy-mantled manucode is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. It is found in lowland rainforest, riverine and monsoon forests, forest edge, swamp-forest and woodlands.[7]
Description
The glossy-mantled manucode is medium-sized, around 42 cm long, glossed green, blue and purple black with a red iris, black bill, long graduated tail and somewhat elongated upper breast and neck feathers. Both sexes are similar. The female is a slightly smaller than the male. In appearance, the glossy-mantled manucode resembles and is difficult to distinguish from its nearest relatives, the crinkle-collared and jobi manucodes.
Behaviour
These birds have diurnal habits. They tend to move alone or in pairs, rarely in small groups: They spend most of their time looking for food among the branches of trees, ready to hide themselves in the thick vegetation when disturbed. They are not particularly timid, but it is easier to hear their calls or flights rather than observe them directly. The diet consists mainly of fruits, figs and arthropods.[7]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Manucodia ater". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T22706114A118812610. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22706114A118812610.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Lesson, René P.; Garnot, Prosper (1830). Voyage autour du monde : exécuté par ordre du roi, sur la corvette de Sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824, et 1825 (in French). Vol. 1, Livre 14. pp. 638–639. For the date of publication see: Cretella, Massimo (2010). "The complete collation and dating of the section Zoologie of the Coquille voyage". Bollettino Malacologico. 46: 83–103.
- ^ Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1962). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 15. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 184.
- ^ Jobling, James A. "ater". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ a b AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Crows, mudnesters, melampittas, Ifrit, birds-of-paradise". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ a b Frith, C.; Frith, D. (2020). del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). "Glossy-mantled Manucode (Manucodia ater), version 1.0". Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
Further reading
- Beehler, B.M. (1989). "The birds of paradise". Scientific American 261: 116-123.
- Clench, Mary H. (1978). "Trachael Elongation in Birds-of-Paradise". Condor 80 (4): 423–430.
- Frith, C.B.; Frith, D.W. (2009). "Family Paradisaeidae (Birds of Paradise)". pp. 404–459. In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Christie, D. (2009). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows, Volume 14. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
- Frith, C.B.; Beehler, B.M. (1998). The Birds of Paradise. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
- Gilliard, E.T. (1969). Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
- Ottaviani, M. (2012). Les Oiseaux de Paradis – Histoire Naturelle et photographies. France: Editions Prin. 320 pp. (in French).
External links
- BirdLife Species Factsheet Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- Oiseaux.net