- Arfak Astrapia
Taxobox
name = Arfak Astrapia
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 225px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia =Paradisaeidae
genus = "Astrapia "
species = "A. nigra"
binomial = "Astrapia nigra"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1788)The Arfak Astrapia, "Astrapia nigra" is a large, approximately 76cm long, blackbird of paradise with aniridescent purple, green and bronze plumage. The male has a very long broad tail, velvety black breast feathers and extremely complex head plumage. The female is a blackish brown with pale barring on its abdomen.Levaillant of
France described this bird as "L’Incomparable" or Incomparable Bird of Paradise.An
Indonesia n endemic, the Arfak Astrapia is restricted to theArfak Mountains inVogelkop Peninsula , West Papua. The diet consists mainly ofpandanus fruits.In the wild, the bird has hybridised with the
Black Sicklebill creating offspring that were once considered a distinct species, the Elliot's Sicklebill "Epimachus ellioti". While some ornithologists still believe that this bird is a distinct species, possibly critically endangered or even extinct, many now think it was a hybrid between the two species.Protected by its geographical isolation and undisturbed forests home, the Arfak Astrapia is evaluated as Least Concern on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II ofCITES .References
* Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is of least concern
External links
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/ebas/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=5833&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=2246 IUCN Red List]
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