Glossy-mantled Manucode

The Glossy-mantled Manucode, Manucodia ater, is a medium-sized, around 42cm long, glossed green, blue and purple black bird of paradise with a red iris, black bill, long graduated tail and somewhat elongated upper breast and neck feathers. Both sexes are similar. The female is a slightly smaller than the male.

In appearance, the Glossy-mantled Manucode resembles and is difficult to distinguished from its nearest relatives, the Crinkle-collared and Jobi Manucodes. It is widely distributed throughout the lowlands of New Guinea and nearby islands. The diet consists mainly of fruits, figs and arthropods.

The Glossy-mantled Manucode was the first bird of paradise encountered by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson, the first westerner to see live wild birds of paradise.

Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Glossy-mantled Manucode is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

San Diego Zoo has the only captive individual of this species outside of New Guinea.

References

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List