Wahnes’ Parotia  Birds of Paradise  Wahnes' Parotia  Wahnes'
Parotia © William T. Cooper  Common name  Wahnes’ Parotia
Scientific name  Parotia wahnesi   Parotia (Greek, curl of hair
by the ear, alluding to plumes on head); wahnesi (named for
German collector C Wahnes).   Sexually dimorphic. Adult male, 43
cm long; females 36 cm. Adult males entirely velvety black
except for large erectile tuft of coppery bronze and white
feathers above nostrils and bill white and coppery brown,
iridescent greenish-yellow breast shield, three plumes like
wires with expanded ends above and behind each eye and long
tail. Adult female with black head, off-white stripe behind eye,
mottled throat and facial stripe, drab brown upperparts and
tail, and barred underparts.   Fruits and small animals.   Mid
montane forests; 1100-1700m.   Polygynous. Males maintain
territories in possible exploded lek on slopes of hills or ridge
tops; while solitary, they maintain auditory contact with each
other. Display involves bending tail forward