BIRD WATCHING: KWAU ARWOPTI

Western or Arfak Parotia (Parotia Sefilata)

The Western or Arfak Parotia, Parotia sefilata, is a medium-sized, approximately 33 cm long, bird of paradise with a medium-length tail. The male has black plumage with an iridescent golden-green breast shield and triangular silver feathers on its crown. It is adorned with an elongated black plumes at the sides of the breast and three erectile spatulate head wires behind each eye. As with most member in the family, the female is unadorned and has brown plumage.

The Picture of Arfak Parotia

Endemic to Indonesia, the Western Parotia is found only in the mountain forests of Vogelkop and Wandammen Peninsula of Western New Guinea. The diet consists mainly of fruits and figs.

In courtship display, the male performs a ballerina-like dance with its elongated black plumes spread around skirt-like, right below the iridescence breast shield. During the spectacular dance, he shakes his head and neck rapidly to show the brilliance of his inverted silver triangle-shaped head adornment to attending females.

Picture of Western Parotia