Paradise-crow
A species of Paradise-crow Scientific name : Lycocorax pyrrhopterus Genus : Paradise-crow
Paradise-crow, A species of Paradise-crow
Botanical name: Lycocorax pyrrhopterus
Genus: Paradise-crow
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Don Roberson
Description
The paradise-crow is a medium-sized bird-of-paradise, reaching a body length of up to 42 cm, with a dark, soft and silky plumage that may appear all black, but is in fact a very dark brown. Both sexes are similar; the female is slightly smaller than the male. The nominate subspecies has the least or no white patch on the inner flight feathers. The head is slightly glossy black-brown and the upper parts are lighter than the head. The upper plumage shines slightly, with a blue-gray shimmer that is most pronounced on the coat, with cinnamon-brown wings. It has a black bill, crimson eyes, and a call reminiscent of a dog's bark. It was originally thought to be a crow (Corvidae), and was then reassigned to the birds of paradise, where it is the earliest known offshoot from the paradisaeid family tree, dating back approximately 17 million years in the Miocene period. Lycocorax is derived from the Greek lycos, a wolf, and korax, a raven. Pyrrhopterus means red-winged, from the Greek pyrrhos, a flame or the colour red, and pteros, wing.
Size
42 cm
Feeding Habits
Paradise-crow is predominantly frugivorous, consuming fruits and occasionally arthropods. Foraging often occurs alone or in small groups, favoring dense foliage or open areas, sometimes alongside fruit-doves and imperial-pigeons. Unique preferences include Pinanga palms and upper midstorey canopies
Habitat
Paradise-crow typically resides in a variety of forest environments, encompassing lowland, hill, and middle montane forests. They frequently inhabit regions with taller trees within the forest interior, extending to forest edges and secondary growth areas. Paradise-crow can also be found in plantations, scattered scrub, and trees across diverse landscapes including agricultural land. They adapt to habitats of varying vegetation density, yet show a preference for forested areas over more open or heavily altered landscapes. Mangroves adjacent to swamp-forests are rarely part of their habitat.
Dite type
Frugivorous
General Info
Behavior
The nominate form is a forest dweller, also found in gardens and forest edges. It prefers the taller trees of the forest interior and is not typically seen in the more open agricultural areas. Seldom found in swamp forest or mangroves, it sometimes occurs in Coconut plantations and orchards, and frequents the mid-level to lhe canopy of the vegetation. The diet of the paradise-crow is composed mainly by fruit, with some supplement from arthropods, both of which are foraged mainly from dense canopy and middle foliage. The breeding season is approximately December to June, with eggs laid over the same period. As the sexes are similar, it is likely that the species is monogamous, but breeding behaviour is almost unknown. Halmahera nests are described as a large basin-shaped structure made of roots and moss and lined with soft chips of wood, and the clutch appears to consist of just a single egg.
Distribution Area
The paradise-crow is occurs on the Northern Maluku islands of Halmahera, Bacan (Batjan), Kasiruta, Morotai and Rau. There are two subspecies, which occur in the following regions of Maluku. Lycocorax pyrrhopterus pyrrhopterus — Halmahera, Kasiruta, and Bacan Lycocorax pyrrhopterus morotensis — Morotai, and Rau Previously, the Obi paradise-crow (Lycocorax obiensis) was treated as a subspecies of the Halmahera paradise-crow. However, due to its distinctiveness and potential for separation, it was split from L. pyrrhopterus in 2016.
Photo By Don Roberson
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Birds-of-paradise Genus
Paradise-crow Species
Paradise-crow