Archbold's Bowerbird
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| Archboldia papuensis Rand, 1940 |
The Archbold's Bowerbird, Archboldia papuensis is a medium-sized, up to 37cm long, dark grey songbird with brown iris, grey feet and black bill. The male has narrow black scalloping with some trace of golden yellow crown feathers and dark grey forked tail, that shorter than the wing. Both sexes are similar. The female is smaller than male, with yellow patch on wings and has no crown feathering.
The Archbold's Bowerbird is distributed and endemic to highland forests of Western New Guinea. The male is polygamous and its bower yet to be discovered. The diet consists mainly of fruits.
This little known bowerbird was discovered by Austin Loomer Rand in 1939. The name commemorates the New Guinea explorer and ornithologist Richard Archbold. It is notable for going to great lengths in acquiring shed ornamental plumes of the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise for decorating its courtship bower.
Due to ongoing habitat loss, the Archbold's Bowerbird is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Archboldia papuensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 30 October 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
