From Opus

Alternative names: Greater Sicklebill; Black Sickle-billed Bird-of-paradise

Epimachus fastuosus

[edit] Identification

Male 63cm (110cm including tail), female 55cm. A large Bird-of-paradise with a long, sickle-shaped bill and greatly elongated central tail feathers.

[edit] Male

• Black plumage shows iridescent green, blue and purple scaley feathers
• Red iris
• Bright yellow mouth
• Long curved black bill
• Large sabre-shaped tail
• Large erectile fan-like plumes on sides of breast
  

[edit] Female

• Reddish brown plumage
• Red-brown iris
• Buff underparts with dark brown barring

Juveniles and immatures are similar to females.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to the mountains of New Guinea.
Uncommon or rare in most of its range. The population is declining due to habitat loss.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

There are 3 subspecies:^[1],[2]

• E. f. fastuosus:

• Northwest New Guinea (Tamrau and Arfak mountains)

• E. f. atratus:

• Eastern New Guinea (Mountains of Wandammen Peninsula to Kratka Range)

• E. f. ultimus:

• Coastal northern Papua New Guinea (Mount Menawa and Mount Somoro)

The proposed subspecies stresemanni is usually synonymized with atratus. The scientific name is also spelled fastosus.
Hybrids with Long-tailed Paradigalla, Arfak Astrapia and Superb Bird-of-paradise recorded.

[edit] Habitat

Mid mountain forests, mostly in primary forest. Occurs at 1280 - 2550m, mainly at 1800 - 2150m. Usually at lower elevation than Brown Sicklebill.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Feeds on fruits and animals (insects and small vertebrates).

[edit] Breeding

Breeding at least from November to February. A polygynous species. The male advertises from a traditional high perch (usually a broken-off vertical tree trunk) and performs its display. The female builds and attends the nest alone.
One described nest was made of orchid stems with vines and moss on base. No other information.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID