About Parotia sefilata (J.R.Forster, 1781)
This bird-of-paradise species, the western parotia, is sexually dimorphic, just like other birds-of-paradise. Males have jet black plumage, with distinctive iridescent, scale-like golden-green breast shields and triangular silver feathers on their crown. Three long erectile wire-like occipital plumes (also called head wires) with small spatulate tips grow from above and behind each eye. Like most other birds-of-paradise, females have plain brown plumage with no ornate adornments. This species is similar to Lawes's parotia, Parotia lawesii. The western parotia can only be found in the mountain forests of Vogelkop and the Wandammen Peninsula of Western New Guinea.
