Short-tailed Paradigalla
Encyclopedia
The Short-tailed Paradigalla, Paradigalla brevicauda is a medium-sized, approximately 23 cm long, stocky black plumaged bird-of-paradise with slender black bill
and bright yellow and blue wattles
in front of each eye. The sexes are almost similar in appearance: the female is smaller than the male with a duller plumage and smaller wattles.
The Short-tailed Paradigalla is distinguished from its nearest relative, the Long-tailed Paradigalla
, by its smaller size, shorter tail feathers and lack of red on the wattles. Formerly presumed to have been monogamous, it is now considered to breed polygynously. It inhabits the mountain forests of New Guinea
. The diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds and insects.
The Short-tailed Paradigalla is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
and bright yellow and blue wattles
Wattle (anatomy)
A wattle is a fleshy dewlap or caruncle hanging from various parts of the head or neck in several groups of birds, goats and other animals. In some birds the caruncle is erectile tissue.The wattle is frequently an organ of sexual dimorphism...
in front of each eye. The sexes are almost similar in appearance: the female is smaller than the male with a duller plumage and smaller wattles.
The Short-tailed Paradigalla is distinguished from its nearest relative, the Long-tailed Paradigalla
Long-tailed Paradigalla
The Long-tailed Paradigalla, Paradigalla carunculata is a large, approximately 37 cm long, black bird of paradise with long and pointed tail. One of the most plain member in the family Paradisaeidae, its only adornment is the colorful facial wattles of yellow, red and sky-blue near base of the...
, by its smaller size, shorter tail feathers and lack of red on the wattles. Formerly presumed to have been monogamous, it is now considered to breed polygynously. It inhabits the mountain forests of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. The diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds and insects.
The Short-tailed Paradigalla is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.