Alternative name: Curl-breasted Manucode
- Manucodia comrii
Identification
43 cm. The biggest Manucode.
- Iridescent purple, black and green
- Yellow green upper breast and neck
- Distinctive curled head crest, neck feathers crinkled
- Twisted central tail feathers
- Red iris
Sexes similar, females are on average smaller.
Distribution
Endemic to the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago and the Trobriand Islands (Papua New Guinea).
Common to abundant in its small range.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- M. c. trobriandi on Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina and Kaileuna)
- M. c. comrii on D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago (Goodenough, Wagifa, Fergusson, Dobu and Normanby)
The two subspecies are only poorly differentiated and the species is probably better treated as monotypic.
May form a superspecies with Crinkle-collared Manucode.
Habitat
Forests from lowland to upper montane forest, woodland, secondary growths and even neglected gardens. Occurs up to 2000m on Goodenough.
Behaviour
Diet
Diet little known. Recorded feeding on fruits, takes probably also invertebrates.
Forages singly, in pairs or in small groups. On Fergusson Island also together with Goldie's Bird-of-paradise.
Breeding
Breeding season at leat from June to November and in March. One recorded nest was an open loose structure made of vinelets and twigs, suspended in a fork of a tree branch. Lays 1 - 2 eggs.
No data about movements.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- 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
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Curl-crested Manucode. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Curl-crested_Manucode
