Western parotia

The western or Arfak parotia (Parotia sefilata) is a medium-sized, approximately 33 cm long, bird-of-paradise with a medium-length tail.

Western parotia
male
female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Paradisaeidae
Genus:	Parotia
Species:	P. sefilata
Binomial name
Parotia sefilata (Pennant, 1781)

Parotia comes from the Greek parotis, a lock or curl of hair by the ear, alluding to the head wires. The specific name sefilata is derived from the Latin word 'sex', meaning six, and filum, a thread or filament.^[2]

Description

Like other birds-of-paradise, the western parotia is sexually dimorphic. The male has jet black plumage, with striking iridescent scale-like golden-green breast shields and triangular silver feathers on its crown.^[3] The occipital plumes (or head wires) arise from above and behind the eyes, with three long erectile wire-like plumes with smaller spatulate tips, above and behind each eye.^[2] As with most members of the family, the female is unadorned and has brown plumage.^[4] The species is similar to Lawes's parotia (Parotia lawesii).

Distribution

The western parotia is found only in the mountain forests of Vogelkop and the Wandammen Peninsula of Western New Guinea.^[4]

Behaviour

Western Parotia at his court

The species is polygynous. Males presumably perform a series of courtship displays likely on terrestrial courts in exploded leks.^[4]

In courtship display, the male performs a ballerina-like dance with its elongated black plumes spread skirt-like, right below the iridescent breast shield. During the spectacular dance, he shakes his head and neck rapidly to show the brilliance of his inverted silver triangle-shaped head adornment to attending females.

The nest is built and attended by the female alone; the breeding season is largely unknown.^[2]

The diet consists mainly of fruits such as figs, and arthropods.^[4]

Status

A widespread and common species throughout its range, the western parotia is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.^[1] It is listed in Appendix II of CITES.