Magnificent Riflebird

The Magnificent Riflebird is actually a Bird-of-Paradise, and belongs to the family Paradisaeidae. Like all members of that family, it lives in New Guinea and parts of northern Australia. It inhabits the lowland rainforests that are found there.

Like other Birds-of-Paradise, the Magnificent Riflebird is sexually dimorphic. Males are a smooth, velvety black, with shiny blue-green crowns and breasts. Females are brown and buff all over.

Males use their shiny feathers and smooth moves to attract females. When the breeding season arrives, he will select a perch and call out to nearby ladies. When one arrives, he will raise up his wings, puff out his chest, and dance around her while bobbing his head back and forth to show off the blue-feathers. If the female enjoys the dance, the male will surround her with his wings while they briefly mate. After mating, the females goes on her way while the male continues to try and impress additional mates.

But my words do this dance no justice-- watch the video!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : New Guinea, Australia
Size : Body Length up to 13in (33cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Ptiloris -- Species : P. magnificus
Image : Birds From Eden

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Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

Male members of the Bird-of-paradise family are known for having strange plumage and delightful courtship displays. Today's bird is no exception.

Found in New Guinea and Indonesia, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise is a sexually dimorphic species where the female is a reddish brown with dark bars, and where the male possesses some goofy feathers in which to attract a mate.

Males have dark feathers on the back and chest, complete with green tips. Their tail plumage is bright yellow and fluffy, and has a dozen thin, wire-like feathers that curl outward from it (giving the species its common name).

When the breeding season rolls around, the male wants to attract as many ladies as possible. He finds a perch, and from there will poke at prospective mates. He'll show them his bright feathers, and will hop from foot to foot while swiping the females with his wire-feathers. If the female is impressed, they mate, and she goes off to build her nest and incubate her chicks alone. Breeding season can last half a year or longer, depending on the location, so the males have a lot of dancing to do!

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : New Guinea, Indonesia
Size : Body Length up to 13in (33cm)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Seleucidis-- Species : S. melanoleucus
Image : Peter Tan

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Ribbon-tailed Astrapia

Astrapia mayeri (male)

Though it does not bear the name, the Ribbon-tailed Astrapia is in fact a Bird-of-Paradise. They are endemic to a small range in central Papua New Guinea, where they are luckily still common due to their remote environment.

As with all Birds-of-Paradise, the Ribbon-tailed Astrapia is more spectacular looking in its male form. They have iridescent green, blue, and bronze plumage around their heads, and shiny black bodies. When full grown they sport the longest tail feathers (in comparison to body size) of any bird. Though their body length is only about one foot, their long white tail can grow to three or four feet!

Females are a duller brownish-black, and do not have a fancy tail. But then again, they don't need such flashy displays to mate. The males compete in a lek system, and jump from branch to branch flaunting their plumage. Females select who they want to breed with, and after doing the deed they go off to nest and incubate alone (where the camouflaging brown certainly comes in handy!)

Though they are common in their range, the fact that the range is so tiny has caused the bird to be listed as near Threatened. Interestingly, they share their little patch of land with another species, the Princess Stephanie's Astrapia, and the two are known to mate and produce hybrids. The genus name Astrapia is Greek for "flashing" which is very appropriate for a group of wonderfully plumed little show offs!

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened
Location : Papua New Guinea
Size : Body length up to 1ft (32cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Astrapia -- Species : A. mayeri

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Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise

Male Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise

The Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise is one of the largest members of the Bird-of-Paradise family. Like many of its cousins, this spectacular bird can be found in New Guinea. It is actually the national bird of Papua New Guinea, and can be found on their flag and on stamps! Their feathers have long served a cultural purpose, and have been used during ceremonies and festivals.

Raggiana Birds-of-Paradise, named for a Genoese marquis, are brilliantly colored... if they are male. Yellow crowns, green throats, and long, orange feathers help these dapper fellows to attract mates. Females are a more drab, reddish brown.

Breeding is done in a lek style, with multiple males coming together in an arena of sorts. They find perches that they defend and show off on, clapping their wings and shaking their heads. Raggiana Birds-of-Paradise do not form pair bonds. After mating, the female goes off to nest and incubate alone while the males works to attract yet another mate.

The Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise is an omnivore that feeds off of fruits and insects. They serve as important seed dispensers for several plant species.

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IUCN Status :  Least Concern

Location : New Guinea

Size : Body Length up to 13in (34cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes

Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Paradisaea -- Species : P. raggiana

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King Bird-of-Paradise

Male King Bird-of-Paradise

Not to be confused with the Emperor Bird-of-Paradise or the King of Saxoy Bird-of-Paradise, the King Bird-of-Paradise is the smallest of the entire Bird-of-Paradise family.

Found in the forests of New Guinea, the males of the species are brilliantly colored with tones of red of green, and sport a stark white chest. Females are, unfortunately, a drab brown, but that coloring helps to camouflage them from danger.

The purpose of the bright colors is, of course, to attract a mate. Their courtship ritual involves the males puffing out his white chest feathers, dancing, and hanging upside down from branches while performing additional acrobatic displays. How could a lady bird resist?

If a female is impressed, mating takes place, but then the male moves on to finding yet another mate. Some unlucky males will never mate at all.

Check out yet another wonderful clip from BBC Wildlife (yay David Attenborough!) that features the mating dance of this tiny, yet magnificent species.

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IUCN Status :  Least Concern

Location : New Guinea

Size : Length up to 6in (16cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Cicinnurus -- Species : C. regius

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Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise

Female (top) and Male (bottom)

Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise is a small Passerine bird found on only two islands in Indonesia, Waigeo and Batanta. They typically inhabit forested hill areas, though they have also been found in forests of both lower and higher elevations.

Birds-of-Paradise are known for their amazing plumage, typically found only in males. Wilson's is no exception to this. They exhibit a dazzling range of colors, with red backs, yellow mantles, green breasts, and turquoise crowns. Males also have small black curving tail feathers. Females and juvenile males are duller in color, with lighter blue crowns and brownish shades elsewhere.

Adult males use their spectacular plumage to attract mates. They enter well lit clearings, where the sun can reflect off their colorful feathers, and perform intricate song and dance rituals to impress potential partners.

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IUCN Status : Near Threatened

Location : Indonesia

Size : Length up to 8in (21cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae -- Genus : Cicinnurus -- Species : C. respublica

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King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise

Male King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise

Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Paradisaeidae
Genus : Pteridophora
Species : alberti

Body Length : 8.5in (22cm)
Plume Length : 20in (50cm)

IUCN Status : Least Concern

The King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise is a little bird with a HUGE name... and some pretty long feathers to match. Females are brownish-gray and plain, which helps to camouflage them, but males of the species are colorful and have some incredible headgear- long plumes that appear to stick out from their ears! These scalloped, iridescent feathers can stick up at will, and are used in their mating displays.They are so strange looking that when the first specimens were brought back to Europe, many believed them to be fake!

Males are territorial. They call and sing songs to lure in potential females, and wow them with their plume movements. After mating, the female leaves and the male works to attract more females. Females lay one egg, which she alone cares for.

King of Saxony's live in New Guinea, and are one of several "Bird-of-Paradise" species, though they are the only member of their specific genus. They are named for Albert, a late 19th century King of Saxony.

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