Glossy-mantled manucode (Manucodia ater)

Description and distinguishing traits

Adult glossy-mantled manucodes measure roughly 40–45 cm in length. Their plumage appears black at a distance but shows green, blue and purple gloss in good light. The species has a red iris and a stout black bill; for a specific reference to the bill morphology see bill details. The neck and upper breast bear somewhat elongated, silky feathers that contribute to their smooth, glossy appearance. Compared with many birds-of-paradise, males and females are similar in look, with only subtle differences in size and sheen.

Distribution and habitat

Glossy-mantled manucodes inhabit lowland and foothill rainforests, forest edges and secondary growth across New Guinea and adjacent islands. Their range and habitat preferences are summarized in regional field guides; general range information can be consulted via New Guinea distribution sources. They are primarily canopy and subcanopy birds but will move through lower levels when feeding.

Behavior, diet and breeding

These birds are largely frugivorous, taking a variety of fruits and figs, and they supplement their diet with insects and other small arthropods. Manucodes are known for loud, far-carrying calls rather than elaborate visual displays; their vocalizations are an important means of communication in dense forest. The genus tends toward monogamous pair bonds and relatively simple courtship compared with the extravagant displays of some other paradise species.

History, human observation and captivity

The glossy-mantled manucode figures in early European natural history: the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson was among the first westerners to record live birds-of-paradise in the field; see accounts connected to Lesson and further biographical notes at Lesson references. Reportedly, institutions outside New Guinea have rarely held this species in captivity; historically, the San Diego Zoo was noted as housing a specimen and has been cited as one of the few facilities to do so.

Notable facts and conservation

• Manucodes are less sexually dimorphic and less display-oriented than many other birds-of-paradise.
• Their glossy plumage is produced by feather structure that reflects light, giving green, blue and purple sheens.
• Conservation status depends on habitat condition; protection of lowland forest in New Guinea benefits this and many other species.