Short-tailed Paradigalla

Short-tailed Paradigalla
In Papua New Guinea
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Paradisaeidae
Genus:	Paradigalla
Species:	P. brevicauda
Binomial name
Paradigalla brevicauda Rothschild & Hartert, 1911

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.

Illustration of a male

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.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Paradigalla brevicauda. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List