Paradise riflebird

Paradise riflebird

Ptiloris paradiseus. Illustration from IOC World Bird List
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Paradisaeidae
Genus:	Ptiloris
Species:	P. paradiseus
Binomial name
*Ptiloris paradiseus* Swainson, 1825

The paradise riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) is a species of passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family.

Description

The paradise riflebird is medium-sized, up to 30 cm long. The male is black with an iridescent greenish blue crown, throat and central tail feathers. It has a black curved bill, black feet, dark brown iris and yellow mouth. The female is an olive brown bird with barred blackish below with a long white brow above her eye.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The species is Endemic to eastern Australia, where it occurs in the rainforests of New South Wales and central Queensland.^[3]

Ecology

The diet consists mainly of insects and fruits. In displays, the male extends his wings and fans them upward with its head behind the wings to expose his metallic green throat feathers. He then moves his head from side to side with open bill to show off his bright yellow mouth.

Ptiloris paradiseus. Museum specimen
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Paradise Riflebird from Maleny, SE Queensland

References

↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Ptiloris paradiseus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
↑ Morcombe, Michael (2004). Field guide to Australian birds. Steve Parish Publishing.
↑ "Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseus". BirdLife Species Factsheet. BirdLife International.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ptiloris paradiseus.

Wikispecies has information related to: Ptiloris paradiseus

Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Rifle-bird.

Birds-of-paradise (family: Paradisaeidae)

Genera and species

Genus	Species

Lycocorax	Paradise-crow

Manucodia	Glossy-mantled manucode Jobi manucode Crinkle-collared manucode Curl-crested manucode Trumpet manucode

Paradigalla	Long-tailed paradigalla Short-tailed paradigalla

Astrapia	Arfak astrapia Splendid astrapia Ribbon-tailed astrapia Princess Stephanie's astrapia Huon astrapia

Parotia	Western parotia Queen Carola's parotia Bronze parotia Lawes's parotia Eastern parotia Wahnes's parotia

Pteridophora	King of Saxony bird-of-paradise

Lophorina	Superb bird-of-paradise

Ptiloris	Magnificent riflebird Growling riflebird Paradise riflebird Victoria's riflebird

Epimachus	Black sicklebill Brown sicklebill

Drepanornis	Black-billed sicklebill Pale-billed sicklebill

Cicinnurus	Magnificent bird-of-paradise Wilson's bird-of-paradise King bird-of-paradise

Semioptera	Standardwing

Seleucidis	Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea	Lesser bird-of-paradise Greater bird-of-paradise Raggiana bird-of-paradise Goldie's bird-of-paradise Red bird-of-paradise Emperor bird-of-paradise Blue bird-of-paradise

Incomplete list of likely hybrid birds-of-paradise

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