Greater lophorina

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Greater lophorina
Ptiloris magnificus male.jpg
Male greater lophorina
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paradisaeidae
Genus: Lophorina
Species:
L. latipennis
Binomial name
Lophorina latipennis
Rothschild, 1907

The greater lophorina (Lophorina latipennis), formerly a subspecies of the superb bird-of-paradise, is a species of passerine bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. It is found in the central and northeast montane regions of New Guinea.

Contents

Taxonomy

The greater lophorina was formally described in 1907 by the English zoologist Water Rothschild based on a specimen collected in the Rawlinson Mountains on the Huon Peninsula of north-eastern Papua New Guinea. He considered the specimen to be a subspecies of the lesser lophorina and coined the trinomial name Lophorina minor latipennis. [2] [3] The specific epithet combines the Latin latus meaning "broad" with -pennis meaning "-winged" or "-feathered". [4]

For many years what is now the greater lophorina was treated as one of the subspecies of the superb bird-of-paradise with the trinomial (Lophorina superba latipennis). [3] [5] In 2017 Martin Irestedt and collaborators suggested that the superb bird-of-paradise should be split into three species. They also proposed a neotype from the Kobowre Mountains in New Guinea for the no longer extant type specimen for Lophorina superba. The original type specimen for superba had previously been assumed to come from the Bird's Head Peninsula. [6] Although, the split was generally supported by other ornithologists, the designation of the neotype and the resulting assignment of subspecies were strongly disputed. [7] [8] [9] [10] The taxonomy adopted here rejects the designation of the neotype but splits the superb bird-of-paradise into three species. [11]

Three subspecies are recognised: [11]

Description

It is a small, approximately 26 cm (about 10 inches) long, (passerine) 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 young is similar to the female. The greater lophorina is a dimorphic species. [12]

Distribution and habitat

The greater lophorina is distributed throughout the rainforests of New Guinea. It inhabits most commonly in rain forests or forest edges of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. [13] They can also be found inhabiting mountainous habitats of the forests in New Guinea.

The greater lophorina is also usually found on top of the trees that reside in the rain forests. [14]

Feeding habits

The greater lophorina travels across the trees in the forest to catch its prey, which can vary depending on seasonal availability of food. [13] The male has not only been known to eat fruits and insects, but also has been spotted preying on larger animals such as frogs, reptiles, and other small birds. [14] They can sometimes be seen foraging for food on the grounds of the forest for insects. Males are considered to be territorial, as they defend land as small as 1.2 ha. Within that land, they forage for fruits and insects. [15] [16]

Predators

Known predators of the superb bird-of-paradise include birds of prey and snakes. [14]

Courtship display

An open-winged Greater lophorina. Cape presentation display of superb birds-of-paradise.jpg
An open-winged Greater lophorina.

The species has an unusually low population of females, and competition among males for mates is intensely fierce. This has led the species to have one of the most elaborate courtship displays in the avian world. There are two main stages of courtship display. The first display, known as the initial display activity, involves a series of relatively simple behaviours. The initial display is then followed by a more elaborate courtship show, known as the high-intensity display. [17] After carefully and meticulously preparing a "dance floor" (even scrubbing the dirt or branch smooth with leaves), the male first attracts a female with a loud call. After the curious female approaches, his folded black feather cape and blue-green chest feathers shield spring upward and spread widely and symmetrically around his head, instantly transforming the frontal view of the male bird into a spectacular ellipse-shaped creature that rhythmically snaps his tail feathers against each other, similar to how snapping fingers work, while hopping in frantic circles around the female. The average female rejects 15-20 potential suitors before consenting to mate. The show that males put on to attract females can be a long process that takes up many hours in a day. [18] These species are polygynous and usually will mate with more than one female. [12]

Reproduction and chick behavior

The greater lophorina forms their nest on top of trees using soft material that they find around the forest such as leaves. When reproducing, they usually produce from 1-3 eggs within a nest. It takes about 16–22 days for the eggs to hatch and for the chicks to be born. After that, chicks will be able to live on their own within 16–30 days, leaving their nest and becoming independent. [16] Male superb birds-of-paradise tend to take about two years longer for them to mature compared to the females. Also, it will take about 4–7 years for males to develop their feathers for their courtship displays. [14]

Status

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. [1] It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird-of-paradise</span> Family of birds of the order Passeriformes

The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. The family has 45 species in 17 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of the species, the majority of which are sexually dimorphic. The males of these species tend to have very long, elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings, tail, or head. For the most part, they are confined to dense rainforest habitats. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. The birds-of-paradise have a variety of breeding systems, ranging from monogamy to lek-type polygamy.

<i>Paradisaea</i> Genus of birds

The genus Paradisaea consists of six species of birds-of-paradise. The genus is found on the island of New Guinea as well as the nearby islands groups of the Aru Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Raja Ampat Islands. The species inhabit a range of forest types from sea level to mid-montane forests. Several species have highly restricted distributions, and all species have disjunct distributions. A 2009 study examining the mitochondrial DNA of the family found that the Paradisaea birds-of-paradise were in a clade with the genus Cicinnurus. It showed that the blue bird-of-paradise was a sister taxon to all the other species in this genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arfak astrapia</span> Species of bird

The Arfak astrapia is a species of astrapia, a group of birds found in the birds-of-paradise family Paradiseidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King bird-of-paradise</span> Species of bird

The king bird-of-paradise is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus Cicinnurus, although the genus Diphyllodes is closely related and is subsumed under Cicinnurus by many other authorities.

<i>Astrapia</i> Genus of birds

Astrapia is a genus of birds-of-paradise. The genus contains five species, all endemic to New Guinea. The males have highly iridescent plumage and remarkably long tails. Females are duller and have shorter tails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black sicklebill</span> Species of bird

The black sicklebill is a large member of the birds of paradise family, Paradisaeidae. This species is found throughout most of central New Guinea and the Vogelkop region to the northwest in montane forests at altitudes from 1,800 to 2,150 m.

<i>Epimachus</i> Genus of birds

Epimachus is a genus of birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) that includes two species, found in the highland forests of New Guinea. They are the largest members of the family. The common name "sicklebill" refers to their long, decurved, sickle-shaped bill.

<i>Lophorina</i> Genus of birds

Lophorina is a genus of birds in the birds-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae that are endemic to New Guinea, formerly containing a single species, but as of 2017, containing three species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnificent bird-of-paradise</span> Species of bird

The magnificent bird-of-paradise is a species of bird-of-paradise. The magnificent bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are listed in Appendix II of CITES.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carola's parotia</span> Species of bird

Carola's parotia, also known as Queen Carola's six-wired bird-of-paradise or Queen Carola's parotia, is a species of bird-of-paradise.

The eastern parotia, also known as Helena's parotia, is a medium-sized passerine of the bird-of-paradise family, Paradisaeidae, endemic to mountain forests of the Bird's Tail Peninsula. It is approximately 27 cm long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huon astrapia</span> Species of bird

The Huon astrapia, also known as Rothschild's astrapia, Huon bird-of-paradise, or Lord Rothschild's bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise belonging to the genus Astrapia. Like most of its congeners, A. rothschildi is a rather elusive member of its genus and family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise riflebird</span> Species of bird

The paradise riflebird is a passerine bird of the family Paradisaeidae. It is one of four riflebird species in the genus Ptiloris. It is found in subtropical, temperate rainforests in eastern Australia. The species is sexually dimorphic; the male is black with iridescent blue-green patches, while the female is gray-brown and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawes's parotia</span> Species of bird

Lawes's parotia, is a medium-sized passerine of the bird-of-paradise family, Paradisaeidae. It is distributed and endemic to mountain forests of southeast and eastern Papua New Guinea. Occasionally, the eastern parotia is considered a subspecies of P. lawesii. The species is similar to the western parotia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnificent riflebird</span> Species of bird

The magnificent riflebird is a species of passerine bird in the birds-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.

<i>Ptiloris</i> Genus of birds

The genus Ptiloris consists of four allopatric species of birds in the family Paradisaeidae. These birds of paradise are commonly known as riflebirds, so named for the likeness of their black velvety plumage to the uniform of the Rifle Brigade. Alternatively, the bird's cry is similar to a rifle being fired and hitting its target but a call like this is not commonly reported. They are distributed in the rainforests of New Guinea and Eastern Australia.

Stresemann's bird-of-paradise is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae that is an intergeneric hybrid between a Queen Carola's parotia and greater lophorina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lesser lophorina</span> Species of bird

The lesser lophorina, also known as lesser superb bird-of-paradise or rasping bird-of-paradise, is a species of passerine bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogelkop lophorina</span> Species of bird

The Vogelkop lophorina, formerly part of the superb bird-of-paradise complex, is a species of passerine bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. It is found in montane northwest New Guinea.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2020). "Lophorina latipennis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T181524111A181564897. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T181524111A181564897.en . Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Rothschild, Walter (1907). "The Hon. Walter Rothschild described an example of a new bird-of-paradise". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 19: 92.
  3. 1 2 Mayr, Ernst; Greenway, James C. Jr, eds. (1962). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 15. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 194.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A. "latipennis". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  5. ↑ Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 253. ISBN   978-0-9568611-2-2.
  6. ↑ Irestedt, M.; Batalha-Filho, H.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Christidis, L.; Schodde, R. (2017). "Phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomic consequences in a bird-of-paradise species complex, Lophorina–Ptiloris (Aves: Paradisaeidae)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 181 (2): 439–470. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx004 .
  7. ↑ Elliott, A.; Collar, N.J.; Bruce, M.D.; Kirwan, G.M. (2020). "The nomenclature of Lophorina (Aves: Paradisaeidae), with remarks on the type and type locality of L. superba". Zootaxa. 4732 (1): 57–78. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4732.1.2.
  8. ↑ Schodde, R.; Christidis, L.; Batalha-Filho, H.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Irestedt, M. (2021). "Why neotypification of Lophorina superba (Pennant, 1781) (Aves: Paradisaeidae) is justified—and necessary". Zootaxa. 4951 (2): 304–320. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4951.2.5.
  9. ↑ Elliott, A.; Collar, N.J.; Bruce, M.D.; Kirwan, G.M. (2022). "Why the long‐held identity of Paradisea[= Lophorina]superba J.R. Forster, 1781 is correct and should be maintained, with designation of a valid neotype" (PDF). Avian Systematics. 1 (1): 1–16.
  10. ↑ Elliott, A.; Collar, N.J.; Bruce, M.D.; Kirwan, G.M. (2023). "Case 3865 – Proposed conservation of the original and long-established identity of Paradisea superba J.R. Forster, 1781 (currently Lophorina superba; Aves, Paradisaeidae) by setting aside an inappropriate neotype designation". The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 80 (1): 46–52. doi:10.21805/bzn.v80.a013.
  11. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Crows, mudnesters, melampittas, Ifrit, birds-of-paradise". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. 1 2 Coyne A., Jerry; Kay H., Emily; Pruett-Jones, Steven (August 2007). "The Genetic Basis of Sexual Dimorphism of Birds". Evolution. 62 (1): 214–219. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00254.x . PMID   18005159. S2CID   11490688.
  13. 1 2 "Superb bird-of-paradise videos, photos and facts - Lophorina superba". Arkive. Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Bird of Paradise | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants". animals.sandiegozoo.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  15. ↑ Frith, D.W.; Frith, C.B. (1988). "Courtship display and mating of the Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superb". Emu - Austral Ornithology. 88 (3): 183–188. doi:10.1071/MU9880183.
  16. 1 2 "Bird of Paradise". Animals. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  17. ↑ Peer Review #2 of "Distinctive courtship phenotype of the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise Lophorina niedda Mayr, 1930 confirms new species status (v0.1)" (Thesis). 2018-04-16. doi: 10.7287/peerj.4621v0.1/reviews/2 .
  18. ↑ "Birds of Paradise | National Geographic". 2010-04-11. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
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