WALLACE’S STANDARDWING

This strange and subtle bird of paradise occupies a genus of its own, Semioptera, which literally means standard-wing. ‘Standard’ in this case doesn’t imply that it's ‘common’ or ‘ordinary’ but refers to a military standard or banner.

The males have two on each wing: elongated, ornamental white feathers that can be raised at will, or flutter behind them, as they display. Wallace was rightly thrilled to discover this species in the northern Moluccas or Maluku Islands.