Arfak Astrapia
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© William T Cooper
Fast Facts
Common name
Arfak Astrapia
Scientific name
Astrapia nigra
Etymology
Astrapia (Greek, flashing or lightning); nigra (Latin, black); common name refers to distribution of this species.
Description
Sexually dimorphic. Adult male, 76 cm including tail feathers; female, 50 cm. Male has head blue to purple velvety jet black, cheeks with blue highlights, nape to mantle cape yellowish-green, upper breast dense velvety black with bordered iridescent coppery bronze, upper wing and huge graduated tail black with purple iridescent sheen. Female has black head and remainder of plumage drab blackish brown, with iridescent blue sheen on the nape.
Diet
Fruits and arthropods.
Habitat
Mid and upper montane and the subalpine forests; 1700-2250m.
Courtship
Assumed to be polygynous. Unknown whether males display solitarily or in leks.
Breeding
Breeding season undefined; juveniles observed in July-August. Female builds and attends nests alone. Incubation and nestling period unknown. Hybridisation with Black Sicklebill known.
Status and conservation
May be vulnerable owing to restricted range and possibly low density.
Distribution
Indonesia: West Papua: Bird’s Head Peninsula: Arfak and Tamrau Mountains.
