Edolisoma melas
The Black Cicadabird (*Edolisoma melas*) is a strikingly monochromatic passerine bird native to the New Guinean region, renowned for its sleek appearance and distinctive calls. Males are uniformly glossy black, often appearing iridescent blue-black in favorable light, measuring approximately 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length, with a sturdy bill and moderately long tail. Females typically exhibit a more subdued dark gray to blackish-brown plumage, sometimes with paler underparts, though consider...
Primarily found in lowland to lower montane rainforests, forest edges, secondary growth, and occasionally tall gardens or plantations, from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, specializing in large insects such as cicadas, katydids, and beetles, which they glean from foliage or snatch in flight. They also consume some small fruits.
Black Cicadabirds are diurnal, typically active from early morning to late afternoon, spending most of their time within the forest canopy and mid-story, often roosting in dense foliage. They are primarily arboreal foragers, gleaning insects from foliage and bark, and performing agile sallies to ...
The Black Cicadabird is endemic to the Australasian region, primarily distributed across the vast island of New Guinea and numerous surrounding satellite islands. Its extensive breeding range encompasses the entire island, including both the Indonesian provinces (West Papua and Papua) and the ind...
Least Concern
- The 'cicada' in its name primarily refers to its diet of large cicadas and other insects, rather than its call mimicking cicadas. - Males are among the most uniformly black birds in New Guinea, often appearing with an iridescent blue or purple sheen in strong sunlight. - Despite their sleek app...