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Black Sicklebill

A species of Long-tailed sicklebills
Scientific name : Epimachus fastosus Genus : Long-tailed sicklebills

Black Sicklebill, A species of Long-tailed sicklebills
Botanical name: Epimachus fastosus
Genus: Long-tailed sicklebills
Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) Photo By Charley Hesse TROPICAL BIRDING

Description

As being the second longest bird of paradise species (behind the Ribbon-tailed astrapia), the black sicklebill measures about 110 cm (around 43 inches) in length if the tail is included, and around 24 inches (63 cm) without the tail. The female is around 21 inches (55 cm) in length. The black sicklebill is a very bizarre species of bird of paradise. The male has a black head with a long, silver, slightly downcurved bill (not as downcurved as Drepanornis sicklebills), a bright yellow mouth, scarlet-red eyes which are surrounded by iridescent scaly feathers of typically blue-greenish color that cover most of the front of the face. The rest of the head, including the neck, is jet black. The back is jet black, but is mostly covered with iridescent scale-like feathers with metallic blue color, but can be concluded as greenish-blue in some lights. His wings are black with a less conspicuous bluish iridescence. The greatly exaggerated tail is jet black with a more visible blue iridescence, more notable at the center. On its underside, he has very soft, almost silky brownish-black plumage that ends in relatively elongated flank plumes that extend slightly past the tail, but these plumes are more pronounced in the Brown sicklebill. Typically hidden when perched, the males' most splendid ornaments are two glorious pectoral fans on each side of the breast. These large feathers are almost entirely black, but an outstanding feature is that each feather is intricately tipped iridescent blue-greenish. These fans are used in their courtship displays when they bring them up over their head to form an overall comet shape edged with a stroking narrow, blue line. The female, however, is generically unimpressive. She is an olive-light brown above with more of an orange-brown crown. She is creamy on the belly, which is covered with black barring. She still has a long tail, but not nearly as long as her male counterpart. She differs from the female brown sicklebill by her brown eyes vs. the white eyes of the latter species. The tail is a dull olive. Both sexes have grey-blackish legs and feet.
Size
55 - 63 cm
Feeding Habits
Black Sicklebill are omnivorous, equally consuming fruits and animal prey, including insects. They forage alone or occasionally in mixed flocks, showing adaptability in their feeding behavior.
Habitat
The black Sicklebill typically inhabits middle montane forests, favoring primarily undisturbed areas. It is sometimes observed at the edges of these forests and can occasionally be found in nearby secondary growth as well as garden peripheries. These birds are predominantly in regions with lush, primary forest environments.
Dite type
Frugivorous

General Info

Species Status

With a population estimated around 2,000-10,000 individual birds, the habitat Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and hunting in some areas for food and its tail feathers, the black sicklebill is declining in a relatively relevant portion of it distribution. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) Photo By Charley Hesse TROPICAL BIRDING
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