Yellow-breasted Satinbird
Loboparadisea sericea
The Yellow-breasted Satinbird (Loboparadisea sericea) is a legendary satinbird found only in Papua New Guinea, weighing about 67 g. The yellow-breasted satinbird, formerly known as the yellow-breasted bird-of-paradise and also known as the silken satinbird, is a species of bird in the family Cnemophilidae.
About the Yellow-breasted Satinbird
The yellow-breasted satinbird, formerly known as the yellow-breasted bird-of-paradise and also known as the silken satinbird, is a species of bird in the family Cnemophilidae. It is monotypic within the genus Loboparadisea. It is found in the New Guinea highlands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The yellow-breasted satinbird is a compact, short-tailed bird measuring about 17 cm (6.7 in) in length. Adult males typically weigh 50–75 g, while females are slightly larger and heavier. Adult males are distinctive in having silky sulfur-yellow underparts, including the breast, belly, rump, and malar region, contrasting strongly with the darker honey-brown upperparts. The crown and face are dark brown with an iridescent coppery sheen, while the wings and tail are brown with darker flight feathers. Voice: The species is among the least vocally known birds-of-paradise. Its best-known call has been described as a series of loud, harsh, grating notes, often rendered as “sssh ssh ssh”, usually given in short bursts separated by pauses. The notes reportedly become slower, stronger, and lower-pitched as the sequence progresses.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October, November, with peak activity in August. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Yellow-breasted Satinbird?
- The yellow-breasted satinbird is a compact, short-tailed bird measuring about 17 cm (6.7 in) in length. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Yellow-breasted Satinbird?
- The Yellow-breasted Satinbird is a medium sized bird weighing about 67 g.
- Where can you see a Yellow-breasted Satinbird?
- The Yellow-breasted Satinbird is endemic to Papua New Guinea, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Yellow-breasted Satinbird?
- The Yellow-breasted Satinbird is most easily confused with the Crested Satinbird and the Loria's Satinbird.
- Is the Yellow-breasted Satinbird endangered?
- The Yellow-breasted Satinbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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