Other Scientific Names
Epimachus fastuosus [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)]
Other Names (World)
Black Sicklebill, Greater Sicklebill, Black Sickle-billed Bird-of-paradise, Black Saber-tailed Bird-of-paradise, Greater Sicklebilled Bird-of-paradise
Habitat
Subtropical and tropical montane moist forest. Also subtropical and tropical heavily degraded former forest and rural gardens. From 1,800 - 2,150 m.
Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status LC
Hunting for its tail feathers and food are the main threats. Also clearing of habitat for agriculture is becoming a threat as human population increases.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Male, a paired, sharp, liquid 'quik, quik' and simple nasal contact calls.
Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) [XC502507]
by Barry Edmonston from Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (call)
Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) [XC163231]
by Patrik \u00c5berg from Arfak Mountain Trek, near Mokwan Village, West Papua >1800m (approx), Indonesia (call)
Proposed subspecies stresemanni (described from Schraderberg, in Sepik Mts) synonymized with atratus. Species name often listed as "fastuosus", the spelling first used in the scientific description. However, this spelling was explicitly corrected by original author on later page of same work.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
fastosus (Hermann, 1783) - Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts and Arfak Mts), in north-western New Guinea.
atratus (Rothschild and E. J. O. Hartert, 1911) - Mountains of Wandammen Peninsula, and central Cordillera east to Kratke Range, in eastern New Guinea.
ultimus Diamond, 1969 - Bewani Mts (Menawa) and Torricelli Mts (Mt Somoro), in northern New Guinea.
Similar Species
Brown Sicklebill (Epimachus meyeri) (which replaces it at higher altitudes) which has finer, more decurved bill and pale blue eyes, male is browner and female has no chestnut on wings, and Buff-tailed Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini) which has short, rounded tail. Female Astrapia spp. have short bills.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet