Berlepsch's Parotia
Encyclopedia
The Bronze Parotia also known as Berlepsch's Parotia or Berlepsch's Six-wired Bird of Paradise, is a medium-sized black bird of paradise with bronze-tinged upperparts, conspicuous white flank plumes, iridescent coppery-greenish breast plumes, and six flag-tipped head wires. The duller female lacks the head wires, has finely dark-barred whitish underparts, brown upperparts, and rufous wings. The irides
of both sexes are whitish.
It resembles and is often considered to be a subspecies
of the Carola's Parotia
, but it differs from the latter by having more heavily bronzed plumage and no eye ring.
Previously known only from four specimens, the home of this little known bird of paradise is located in 1985 by the America
n scientist Jared Diamond
at Foja Mountains
of Papua
, Indonesia
. Diamond encountered only the female of this species. In December 2005, an international team of eleven scientists from the United States, Australia and Indonesia, led by ornithologist and Conservation International
vice-president Bruce Beehler
traveled to the unexplored areas of Foja Mountains and rediscovered the Bronze Parotia among other little known and new species. The first photographs of them were taken during the rediscovery http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/photogalleries/newguinea/photo4.html.
The specific name commemorates a 19th century German
ornithologist Hans von Berlepsch
.
Iris (anatomy)
The iris is a thin, circular structure in the eye, responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and thus the amount of light reaching the retina. "Eye color" is the color of the iris, which can be green, blue, or brown. In some cases it can be hazel , grey, violet, or even pink...
of both sexes are whitish.
It resembles and is often considered to be a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Carola's Parotia
Carola's Parotia
The Queen Carola's Parotia, Parotia carolae, also known as Queen Carola's Six-wired Bird of Paradise is a medium-sized, up to 26 cm long, bird of paradise...
, but it differs from the latter by having more heavily bronzed plumage and no eye ring.
Previously known only from four specimens, the home of this little known bird of paradise is located in 1985 by the America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n scientist Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond
Jared Mason Diamond is an American scientist and author whose work draws from a variety of fields. He is currently Professor of Geography and Physiology at UCLA...
at Foja Mountains
Foja Mountains
The Foja Mountains are located just north of the Mamberamo river basin in Papua, Indonesia. The mountains rise to , and have 3,000 square kilometres of old growth tropical rainforest in the interior part of the range...
of Papua
Papua (Indonesian province)
Papua comprises most of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. Its capital is Jayapura. It's the largest and easternmost province of Indonesia. The province originally covered the entire western half of New Guinea...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Diamond encountered only the female of this species. In December 2005, an international team of eleven scientists from the United States, Australia and Indonesia, led by ornithologist and Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
vice-president Bruce Beehler
Bruce Beehler
Dr. Bruce Beehler is an ornithologist and vice-president of Conservation International's Melanesia Center for Biodiversity Conservation ....
traveled to the unexplored areas of Foja Mountains and rediscovered the Bronze Parotia among other little known and new species. The first photographs of them were taken during the rediscovery http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/photogalleries/newguinea/photo4.html.
The specific name commemorates a 19th century German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ornithologist Hans von Berlepsch
Hans von Berlepsch
Count Hans Hermann Carl Ludwig von Berlepsch was a German ornithologist.Berlepsch studied zoology at the University of Halle. He used his inherited wealth to sponsor bird collectors in South America, including Jan Kalinowski and Hermann von Ihering...
.