The Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is an avian species known for its distinctive appearance and elaborate behaviors. This bird inhabits the dense forests of New Guinea and nearby islands, showcasing the diversity within the bird-of-paradise family.
Distinctive Appearance
Male Twelve-wired Birds-of-Paradise are striking, measuring around 33 cm in length. Their plumage features a velvety black head and upperparts, contrasted by yellow underparts and flank plumes. The lower breast feathers are tipped with iridescent emerald-green, creating a shimmering gorget effect. They have a long, black bill and piercing red eyes.
The bird’s name comes from twelve blackish, wire-like filaments that extend from the rear of the male’s yellow flank plumes. Six of these wires emerge from each side, bending forward over the bird’s hindquarters. These specialized feathers take up to seven years to fully develop in males. Females, in contrast, are less flamboyant, displaying a brown coloration with buffy underparts barred in black. Both sexes possess large-clawed feet of a pink hue.
Natural Home and Foraging
The Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise inhabits the lowland and swamp forests of New Guinea and Salawati Island in Indonesia. This species prefers flat lowlands and swampy areas, found up to 180 meters in elevation. They frequently occur in forests containing plants like Pandanus and Metroxylon.
Their diet is varied, consisting mainly of fruits and arthropods. They also consume frogs, insects, and nectar, demonstrating a diverse foraging strategy. These birds often hang upside-down while probing holes in branches to locate food. While solitary, they may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks.
Courtship Displays and Life Cycle
The male Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise performs a “wire-wipe display” to attract females. This display occurs on an exposed, vertical perch, often a leafless tree stump, which the male defends from rivals. Males establish territories at least 700 meters from other males.
During the display, the male flares his breast-shield, exposing his bare pink thighs, and showcases his yellow flank plumes. He sways from side to side, hopping from foot to foot, while making advertising calls. These calls include a nasal, downslurred “hahng” and a series of three to eight rapid “hahr-haw haw haw” notes. As a female approaches, the male’s vocalizations shift to higher, whining “twang hahng-hahng-hahng-hahng-hahng” calls that fall in pitch.
The male uses his twelve wire-like filaments during courtship. He deliberately brushes these wires across the female’s face and foreparts, a tactile form of seduction. If the female is receptive, mating occurs, but the male does not participate in nest building or chick rearing. The female alone constructs the nest, usually in a concealed location to protect it from predators. She incubates the eggs for 20 days and cares for the chicks independently.
Protecting the Species
The Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise is evaluated as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is also listed on Appendix II of CITES, meaning its trade must be monitored despite not being immediately threatened. Despite this classification, the species faces threats to its population.
Threats include habitat loss due to logging and agriculture, and hunting for its decorative feathers. Its population size is not precisely known but is suspected to be declining. Conservation efforts monitor the species and aim to prevent endangerment. Breeding these birds in captivity has been challenging, with the first successful program at Singapore’s Jurong Bird Park in 2001.