On the map the peninsula is shaped like a bird’s head. The crescent-caped lophorina was considered to be a subspecies (L. s. niedda) until 2018, as was lesser lophorina (L. s. minor), though minor is disputed as a full species and is generally considered conspecific with present species. It is a small, approximately 26 cm long, bird. The male is black with an iridescent green crown, blue-green breast cover and a long velvety black erectile cape covering his back. The female is a reddish-brown bird with brownish barred buff below. The greater lophorina is a dimorphic species.
Although heavily hunted for its plumes, the greater lophorina is one of the most common and widespread birds of paradise in the forests of New Guinea, and is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. But as Scholes and Laman watched this new western bird’s routine, they noticed subtle novelties in the display. This bird slid from side to side instead of hopping, and its feathers fanned out to a crescent instead of an oval. Living in largely predator-free habitats have allowed male birds-of-paradise to develop some of the world’s most colourful plumage and elaborate mating displays, making them the favourites of many a David Attenborough nature documentary. It is found in the Bird’s Head Peninsula on New Guinea and nowhere else, making it endemic to this place.
Introducing the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise , now recognized as a new species, thanks in part to its smooth dance moves.
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From 1930 to 2018 it was considered nothing but a subspecies to the superb bird-of-paradise, but then its status has been reevaluated and now it is its own species. The Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise, sometimes noted as crescent-caped lophorina, or curl-caped-bird-of-paradise does not only have a bunch of ridiculously long names, but also a ridiculous look. Lophorina superba sphinx- validity disputed; not enough information provided to prove this as a separate subspecies.
Cape presentation display in the courtship of two kinds of superb birds-of-paradise. A is of Lophorina superba and B is of Lophorina niedda. It is endemic to the Bird’s Head Peninsula in New Guinea. First described in 1930 by Ernst Mayr, it had been treated as a subspecies of the Superb bird-of-paradise but was elevated to the status of a full species in 2018 based on plumage and behavioural differences visible especially visible in the courting male. The Superb Bird-of-Paradise (now called the Greater Superb Bird-of-Paradise) is a somewhat well-known bird. The species shot to stardom after the male’s courtship dance appeared on David Attenborough’s Planet Earth series.
- It is endemic to the Bird’s Head Peninsula in New Guinea.
- Niedda now joins the three other montane species endemic to the region and opens the door for additional systematic scrutiny of the entire avifauna of the Bird’s Head region, including the other birds-of-paradise at middle and upper elevations (e.g.,Drepanonris albertisiandEpimachus fastosus).
- Lophorina superba sphinx- validity disputed; not enough information provided to prove this as a separate subspecies.
- Given the substantial differences in so many aspects of thenieddacourtship phenotype combined with the acute geographic isolation ofnieddapopulations fromsuperbapopulations, leaves little doubt thatnieddadeserves full species status as proposed by Irestedtet al. .
The Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise or crescent-caped lophorina, sometimes noted as the curl-caped bird-of-paradise, is a species of the Paradisaeidae family. It is endemic to the Bird’s Head Peninsula in New Guinea . The crescent-caped lophorina or Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise , sometimes noted as the curl-caped bird-of-paradise, is a species of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. The species validitynieddaunderscores the importance of Indonesian New Guinea’ Bird’s Head and Bird’s Neck eco-regions (i.e., the Vogelkop Peninsula) as a center of endemic biodiversity that deserves particular attention from the conservation community. Niedda now joins the three other montane species endemic to the region and opens the door for additional systematic scrutiny of the entire avifauna of the Bird’s Head region, including the other birds-of-paradise at middle and upper elevations (e.g.,Drepanonris albertisiandEpimachus fastosus). Yet this fact underscores the need for continued exploration of New Guinea’s forests and further systematic investigation of all taxa, including those like the avifauna which are often considered to be relatively well known.
They can also be found inhabiting mountainous habitats of the forests in New Guinea. Comparative analyses identify genomic features potentially involved in the evolution of birds-of-paradise. The Superb Bird-of-Paradise forms an oval shape when displaying; The Vogelkop Bird-of-Paradise forms a crescent. Video still A by Ed Scholes/Macaulay Library. Ed Scholes, co-discoverer of the new species, points out the subtle but distinctive differences between the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise and its nearest relative. Based on Van Ells and Norambuena , the New World Pipits have been rearranged.
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Known predators of the superb bird-of-paradise include birds of prey and snakes. Structurally assisted super black in colourful peacock spiders. Bird-pollinated flowers in an evolutionary and molecular context.
The Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise or crescent-caped lophorina sometimes noted as the curl-caped bird-of-paradise is a species of the bird-of-paradise family. This gif of the bird walking is truly bizarre. Detailed comparison of the cape presentation form of superba and niedda . In 2016, Cornell Lab of Ornithology researcher Ed Scholes and photographer Tim Laman were on a multimedia expedition for the Birds-of-Paradise Project in the far western region of New Guinea, called the Bird’s Head peninsula, when they happened to hear a distinctive song.
Lexicographical data
Cape presentation display of superba and niedda . Advertisement display of superba and niedda . For more information, visit The Birds-of-Paradise Project. This video from Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows how the western bird’s behavior convinced scientists to split the superb bird-of-paradise into two species.
Also, it will take about 4–7 years for males to develop their feathers for their courtship displays. Given the substantial differences in so many aspects of thenieddacourtship phenotype combined with the acute geographic isolation ofnieddapopulations fromsuperbapopulations, leaves little doubt thatnieddadeserves full species status as proposed by Irestedtet al. . In the jungles of Indonesia the male superb bird of paradise is famous for his courtship dance. To attract a mate he calls loudly, unfurls his jet black feathers and iridescent green apron, and starts to dance. If he’s really good at it, the female accepts him. When expanded for courtship display, the Vogelkop male’s raised cape creates a completely different appearance — crescent-shaped with pointed tips rather than the oval shape of the widespread form of the species.
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