Halmahera paradise-crow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Halmahera paradise-crow |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Paradisaeidae |
| Genus: | Lycocorax |
| Species: |
L. pyrrhopterus
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| Binomial name | |
| Lycocorax pyrrhopterus (Bonaparte, 1850)
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The Halmahera paradise-crow (Lycocorax pyrrhopterus) is a special bird that looks a bit like a crow. It's also called the silky crow because of its soft feathers. This medium-sized bird is a type of bird-of-paradise.
It lives only in the lowland forests of Northern Maluku, a group of islands in Indonesia. This means it is endemic to that area. The Halmahera paradise-crow mainly eats fruits and small creatures like insects, which are called arthropods.
Unlike many birds of paradise, this species is monogamous. This means a male and female pair stay together to raise their young. It is a common bird in its home, so experts say it is of least concern for becoming endangered. It is also listed on Appendix II of CITES, which helps control trade of animals.
Contents
What Does the Halmahera Paradise-Crow Look Like?
The Halmahera paradise-crow is a medium-sized bird. It can grow up to 42 centimeters (about 16.5 inches) long. Its feathers are dark, soft, and silky. They look black, but are actually a very dark brown color.
Both male and female birds look similar. The female is just a little bit smaller than the male. The main type of this bird has very little or no white on its inner flight feathers.
Feather Colors and Features
The bird's head is a bit shiny, with a black-brown color. Its upper body is lighter than its head. The top feathers have a slight blue-gray shimmer, which is strongest on its back. Its wings are a cinnamon-brown color.
It has a black bill (beak) and bright red eyes. Its call sounds a bit like a dog's bark.
How It Got Its Name
People first thought this bird was a type of crow. Later, they realized it was a bird-of-paradise. Scientists believe it is the oldest type of bird-of-paradise, going back about 17 million years.
The name Lycocorax comes from Greek words. Lycos means wolf, and korax means raven. Pyrrhopterus means red-winged. This comes from the Greek words pyrrhos (flame or red) and pteros (wing).
Where Does the Halmahera Paradise-Crow Live?
The Halmahera paradise-crow lives on several islands in Northern Maluku, Indonesia. These islands include Halmahera, Bacan, Kasiruta, Morotai, and Rau.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of this bird:
- Lycocorax pyrrhopterus pyrrhopterus — This type lives on Halmahera, Kasiruta, and Bacan islands.
- Lycocorax pyrrhopterus morotensis — This type lives on Morotai and Rau islands.
Another bird, the Obi paradise-crow, used to be considered a type of Halmahera paradise-crow. But in recent years, scientists decided it was different enough to be its own species.
Life and Habits of the Halmahera Paradise-Crow
This bird mainly lives in forests. You can also find it in gardens and at the edges of forests. It likes to stay in the taller trees inside the forest. It usually avoids open farm areas.
It is not often seen in swampy forests or mangrove areas. However, it sometimes visits coconut farms and fruit orchards. It spends most of its time in the middle to upper parts of the trees.
What They Eat
The Halmahera paradise-crow's diet is mostly fruit. They also eat some arthropods, like insects. They find their food mainly in the thick leaves of the trees.
Reproduction and Family Life
The breeding season for these birds is usually from December to June. This is when they lay their eggs. Since males and females look alike, it is thought that they are monogamous. This means they form pairs and stay together.
Not much is known about how they raise their young. Their nests are described as large and shaped like a bowl. They are made of roots and moss, and lined with soft wood chips. It seems they usually lay only one egg at a time.
 | Charles R. Drew |
 | Benjamin Banneker |
 | Jane C. Wright |
 | Roger Arliner Young |
