Manucodia jobiensis
Large paradisaeid with slightly graduated tail; base of culmen slightly broadened and flattened (far less so than in congeners except M. keraudrenii). Has blue-black head and neck with iridescent blue-green tipping on smooth feathering, plum-purple gloss in some lights; nape, neck, chin and throat distinctly barred (iridescent tips contrast with dark matt feather portions); mantle, back, rump and uppertail-coverts blue with iridescent violet-purple gloss and magenta sheen, all barred with broad matt black feather tipping; uppertail deep blue-black, uniformly glossed rich violet-purple magenta sheens,rectrices with tine hair-like central points; upper breast as mantle but less purple, lower breast, belly and thighs with iridescence progressively even less purple, more green-blue, vent and undertail-coverts matt brownish-black with subtle green-blue gloss; iris blood-red, bill dark grey to black, legs black. Sexes similar. Adult female on average smaller and duller then male. Juvenile has downy upperside and underside, throat and crown brownish-black, crown more matt blackish to dull sooty black, upperwing and tail progressively coloured and glossy with age; immature like adult but duller.
Not Threatened
Large paradisaeid with slightly graduated tail; base of culmen slightly broadened and flattened (far less so than in congeners except M. keraudrenii). Has blue-black head and neck with iridescent blue-green tipping on smooth feathering, plum-purple gloss in some lights; nape, neck, chin and throat distinctly barred (iridescent tips contrast with dark matt feather portions); mantle, back, rump and uppertail-coverts blue with iridescent violet-purple gloss and magenta sheen, all barred with broad matt black feather tipping; uppertail deep blue-black, uniformly glossed rich violet-purple magenta sheens,rectrices with tine hair-like central points; upper breast as mantle but less purple, lower breast, belly and thighs with iridescence progressively even less purple, more green-blue, vent and undertail-coverts matt brownish-black with subtle green-blue gloss; iris blood-red, bill dark grey to black, legs black. Sexes similar. Adult female on average smaller and duller then male. Juvenile has downy upperside and underside, throat and crown brownish-black, crown more matt blackish to dull sooty black, upperwing and tail progressively coloured and glossy with age; immature like adult but duller.
Male 34 cm, 212-257 g; female 31 cm, 150-205 g.
Taxonomy: Manucodia jobiensis Salvadori, 1876, Wonapi, Yapen Island (Jobi), New Guinea. Sympatric with M. ater, M. chalybatus or M. keraudrenii at various localities, but no cases of hybridization recorded. Birds from Rubi (Geelvink Bay) described as race rubiensis, but considered inseparable from those in rest of range. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution:
- Yapen I and W & N mainland New Guinea from Rubi (W Geelvink Bay) E discontinuously in lowlands to mouth of Ramu R and, in S, from area of Mimika R to Setekwa R.
Lawland forests, swamp-forest, hill forest, and forest edge; sea level to 500 m, rarely to 750 m.
Fruits and arthropods, but relative preference unknown. Foreges for arthropods at up to 15 m in middle storey. Joins mixed-species foragin, flocks of predominantrly black and/or, brown birds, including other birds-of-paradise, with or without Rusty Pitohuis and New Guinea Babblers.
Birds with gonads fairly enlarged in Jun-Aug and Dec-Jan and much enlarged in Feb-Mar, May and Jul across range; single egg late Dec at Mimika R. Solitary display in tree branches Nest a d'eep cup of roots, creepers and leaves, one suspended 2-4 m above ground between horizontal branches. One clutch contained 2 eggs. No other information.