The Wildlife 1983 (Paradise Birds of Irian Jaya)

 

The date of issue of this "The Wildlife 1983" series is November 30, 1983. The Wildlife 1983 series of stamps expose three kinds of Paradise Birds which lived in Irian Jaya, i.e. : Cenderawasih belah rotan Waigeo (Waigeo bird of paradise or Diphyllodes respublica), Cenderawasih paruh sabit hitam (Black sickle-billed bird of paradise or Epimachus fastosus), and Cenderawasih paruh sabit coklat (Black-billed Sicklebill or Drepanornis albertisi).

 1. Cenderawasih belah rotan Waigeo (Waigeo bird of paradise or Diphyllodes respublica)

The tail feathers cross each other twice and are curved like horns. They look also like splitted rattan. The patches on the throat and breast are green and can be puffed out. The mantle is clear yellow and the rest of the back is deep reddish-brown edged with black. The dark brown wing feathers have deep red borders. The crown has bare areas separated by black feathers which gleam when they are erected. These birds lives in the forest highlands of  Waigeo and Batanta Islands in western of Irian Jaya.

2. Cenderawasih paruh sabit hitam (Black sickle-billed bird of paradise or Epimachus fastosus)

Found in the mountain forest of west and central Irian Jaya at altitudes between 4.000 and 7.500 feet. The cock's tail is up to 75 cm long so that the actual body is only about 25 cm. They feed variety of insects and fruits. The coach is black with iridescent patches and decorative plumes. The tail is shining purplish-blue, the crown a gleaning coppery bluish green and the underparts are brownish-black. The bill is black and as yellow as the yolk of an egg inside. The hen has olive-brown upper parts and blackish sides to the head, chin and throat. The hen is so different from the cock that two appear to belong to separate species.

3. Cenderawasih paruh sabit coklat (Black-billed Sicklebill or Drepanornis albertisi)

 This species are found in the Arfak Mountain and in the mountainess country of south east Irian Jaya, between 2.000 and 7.000 feet. The natives call them "Sagraya". They feed mainly an ants, and larvae, which they find in rotting, fallen tress. The cock has reddish-brown upper parts and lighter brown underpants with tuft of plumes at the side of the breast and on the flanks, which play a part in the courtship display. The middle of the belly is white. THe chin, throat and cheeks are covered with small feathers varying from purple to bronze-green. The breast patch has a gleaning dark green stripe, not shown clearly on the plate. The hen is brown on the crown and red-black in the back and wings.