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Described from trade-skins of unknown origins, Parotia berlepschi Kleinschmidt, 1897 was the subject of a longstanding ornithological mystery that remained unresolved for well over a century. With few specimens and no known wild population, most taxonomic assessments over the last century have treated P. berlepschi as a subspecies of Parotia carolae Meyer, 1894. Following discovery of its geographical home in 2005, most authorities returned to giving P. berlepschi full species status. However, evidence supporting the delineation of P. berlepschi from P. carolae has not yet been fully articulated in the literature. Here, we assess phenotypic differentiation and the taxonomic status of P. berlepschi relative to P. carolae based on specimens and recordings of wild birds.
- Unlike Carola’s parotia, the specimens kept by Berlepsch had smaller bills with more of a prominent hooked tip, different plumage figures, and very slight size difference.
- Illustration by an unspecified individual to show the new description of the then new species of parotia in 1897.
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- It resembles and is often considered to be a subspecies of the Queen Carola’s parotia, but it differs from the latter by having more heavily bronzed plumage and no eye ring.
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Parotia berlepschi
The female is drastically different from the female, being light brown above with reddish wings, light brown tail, and a brown and white head. She is creamy below, covered by brown-blackish barring. Parotias are a genus, Parotia, of passerine birds in the bird-of-paradise family of Paradisaeidae. This western parotia or Carola’s parotia is endemic to New Guinea. These birds are known as plumed birds-of-paradise, exclusively due to their quills which are six in number on top of their heads. Males of the genus are characterized by a plumage that consists of six wired head plumes.
This means that male and female western parotias become sexually mature at different ages and at different points in time. The female western parotia of this species is thought to begin breeding as soon as it turns two to three years old. The males do not acquire mature plumage, meaning they do not start breeding until they reach the age of four.
Genus
They dance very similarly to a ballerina by spreading out their skirt. The ballerina dance usually consists of the male hopping from one foot to the other. The parotia, which includes Carola’s parotia, is a species that is endemic to New Guinea. These birds are known as plumed birds of paradise, exclusively due to their quills which are six in number on top of their heads. The male of this genus are characterized by a plumage that consists of six wired head plumes.
The species share many differentiated features, though the Carola’s parotia is more studied than the elusive bronze parotia. The species was first described by Otto Kleinschmidt in 1897. The conservation status of the western parotia, like the other species of birds-of-paradise is Least Concern. Previously known only from four specimens, the home of this little known bird-of-paradise was located in 1985 by the American scientist Jared Diamond at the Foja Mountains of Papua, Indonesia.
They spread out their skirt and hold their breast shield high and dance with great confidence. The parotia ideally lives with other birds from the bird of paradise family. These birds include Parotia carolae, Parotia wahnesi, and Parotia lawesii.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. This species may get aggressive if intruders enter their territory and they start giving out loud alarming calls. A baby parotia, like any other hatchling, is called a chick. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children.
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