Quick answer
IUCN status: Least ConcernTwelve-wired bird-of-paradise at a glance
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae. Range in Indonesia: New Guinea (Papua) and Salawati Island. Diet: fruit, nectar, insects, other arthropods and frogs; a omnivore. IUCN Red List status: Least Concern. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Seleucidis melanoleucus |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Cenderawasih mati-kawat |
| Group | Birds |
| Family | Paradisaeidae |
| Range in Indonesia | New Guinea (Papua) and Salawati Island |
| Linked habitats | Tropical Rainforests, Freshwater Wetlands |
| Diet | Fruit, nectar, insects, other arthropods and frogs |
| Range in Indonesia | Lowland and swamp forest of Papua, including Salawati |
| Key feature | Black-and-yellow male with 12 wire-tipped flank plumes |
| Provincial identity animal | Papua province |
| Other names | Cenderawasih mati-kawat, cenderawasih 12 kawat |
| IUCN status | Least Concern · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 456 |
| Diet type | Omnivore (eats plants and animals) — fruit and nectar, plus insects, other arthropods and frogs · Australian Museum |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) · Oiseaux.net (AVONET/Birds of the World traits) |
In this guide (11)
What is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus), called cenderawasih mati-kawat or cenderawasih dua belas kawat in Indonesia, is a 33–35 cm bird-of-paradise of New Guinea's lowland forests. The male is velvety black and bright yellow. On each flank, six yellow plumes extend into black ‘wires’, giving the twelve wires of its name.
According to the Oiseaux-Birds species card, based on the Handbook of the Birds of the World, the female looks very different, with chestnut-brown upperparts and black-barred underparts. Males take five to seven years to gain adult plumage. National Geographic Indonesia calls the bird the mascot of Papua province.
Evidence: Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗ · Oiseaux.net — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus ↗ · National Geographic Indonesia (2021) — Video: Mengunjungi Pos Pemantauan Cendrawasih 12 Kawat di Tambrauw (Wayback Machine copy) ↗
Where does the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise live?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise lives in lowland and swamp forest on New Guinea and Salawati Island. According to the Oiseaux-Birds species card, it occurs across most of New Guinea except the north-east and far east, usually only up to about 180 m.
It favours permanently or seasonally flooded swamp forest rich in pandan (Pandanus) and sago palm (Metroxylon). BirdLife International lists moist lowland forest as its main habitat and swamp forest as suitable, in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In Indonesia, it can be watched from a monitoring post in Tambrauw regency.
Evidence: Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗ · BirdLife DataZone — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus species factsheet ↗ · National Geographic Indonesia (2021) — Video: Mengunjungi Pos Pemantauan Cendrawasih 12 Kawat di Tambrauw (Wayback Machine copy) ↗
What does the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise eat?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise eats fruit, nectar, insects, other arthropods and frogs. According to the Oiseaux-Birds species card, it is very agile when foraging and even hangs upside down to probe holes in branches.
It sometimes joins mixed flocks of different bird species that forage together. The bird trait databases cited by Oiseaux.net (Pigot et al. 2020; Tobias et al. 2021) class it as a fruit eater that gleans food from plants. Because it lives in swamp forest rich in pandan and sago, it depends on Papua's lowland forests staying intact.
Evidence: Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗ · Oiseaux.net — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus ↗
What are the twelve wires for?
The male uses his twelve wires to brush the female's face during courtship, a move called the ‘wire-wipe display’. Australian Geographic explains that ornithologists Clifford Frith and Bruce Beehler reported this behaviour in 1994.
Males are highly territorial and keep at least 700 m from other males. A male dances on a bare tree stump that rises above the vegetation, puffing out his breast feathers and showing his pink thighs. When a female approaches, he climbs the display pole and sweeps his wires across her face. After mating, the female alone builds the nest, usually in a pandan or sago palm, and lays a single egg.
Evidence: Australian Geographic (2014) — Twelve-wired bird of paradise (Creatura, Bec Crew) ↗ · Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗
Is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise threatened?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is not globally threatened: BirdLife International assesses it as Least Concern. However, according to the Oiseaux-Birds species card, its population is declining because of habitat loss and hunting pressure.
Illegal trade still happens. On 12 May 2026, a joint team from the Papua quarantine office and the Papua conservation agency (BBKSDA) stopped an attempt to smuggle four live twelve-wired birds-of-paradise through Jayapura port. The birds had been stuffed into pieces of plastic pipe and hidden in a fruit basket. After quarantine vets declared them healthy, they were handed to BBKSDA Papua for rehabilitation before release.
Evidence: BirdLife DataZone — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus species factsheet ↗ · Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗ · RRI Jayapura (2026) — Penyelundupan Cenderawasih Digagalkan, Burung Disembunyikan di Pipa ↗
How can the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise be protected?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is protected by keeping Papua's lowland and swamp forests intact and never buying the birds, their plumes or stuffed specimens. Seleucidis melanoleucus is listed as a protected species in the annex to regulation P.106/2018 (entry 456, cenderawasih mati-kawat).
If you see live birds or specimens for sale, report it to BBKSDA Papua, quarantine officers or the police. Birdwatchers should watch males display from monitoring posts with local guides, as in Tambrauw, and leave display poles undisturbed. As Papua's identity animal, listed on the West Sumatra provincial government's website, it is a source of pride that belongs in the forest.
Evidence: Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗ · RRI Jayapura (2026) — Penyelundupan Cenderawasih Digagalkan, Burung Disembunyikan di Pipa ↗ · Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Barat (Humas, 2017) — Fauna Sekaligus Maskot Prov. Sumbar ↗
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Scientific classification of the Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Paradisaeidae |
| Genus | Seleucidis |
| Species | Seleucidis melanoleucus |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise
What is the scientific name of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise?
The scientific name of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is Seleucidis melanoleucus, in the family Paradisaeidae. In Indonesian it is called Cenderawasih mati-kawat.
What kind of animal is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is a bird in the family Paradisaeidae. By diet it is a omnivore (eats plants and animals): a fruit and nectar, plus insects, other arthropods and frogs.
Where does the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise in: New Guinea (Papua) and Salawati Island.
Source-supported habitats: Tropical Rainforests, Freshwater Wetlands.
What does the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise eat?
Diet of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise: fruit, nectar, insects, other arthropods and frogs. That makes it a omnivore (eats plants and animals). Source: Australian Museum.
How does the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise reproduce?
The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Vigie-Nature École (MNHN).
Is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise nocturnal?
No. The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is diurnal (active by day). Source: Oiseaux.net (AVONET/Birds of the World traits).
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise?
Key features of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: black-and-yellow male with 12 wire-tipped flank plumes.
What is the scientific classification of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise?
Scientific classification of the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Paradisaeidae, genus Seleucidis, species Seleucidis melanoleucus.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise endangered?
No, according to the global IUCN assessment. On the IUCN Red List, the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is listed as Least Concern: it does not qualify for a threatened category or for Near Threatened in the global assessment. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise protected in Indonesia?
Is the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 456).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise be kept as a pet?
No. Because the twelve-wired bird-of-paradise is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Sources & references
- BirdLife DataZone — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleucus species factsheet ↗
- Oiseaux-Birds — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus (species card) ↗
- Australian Geographic (2014) — Twelve-wired bird of paradise (Creatura, Bec Crew) ↗
- Oiseaux.net — Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus ↗
- National Geographic Indonesia (2021) — Video: Mengunjungi Pos Pemantauan Cendrawasih 12 Kawat di Tambrauw (Wayback Machine copy) ↗
- RRI Jayapura (2026) — Penyelundupan Cenderawasih Digagalkan, Burung Disembunyikan di Pipa ↗
- Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Barat (Humas, 2017) — Fauna Sekaligus Maskot Prov. Sumbar ↗
- Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗
- Australian Museum ↗
- Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.
Cite this page
PanduanHewan. (2026, 1 October). Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus). PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/twelve-wired-bird-of-paradise/