Paradise riflebird
Paradise riflebird | |
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Ptiloris paradiseus. Illustration from IOC World Bird List | |
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
- 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. |