Superb Bird of Paradise

Taxobox
name = Superb Bird of Paradise
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


image_width = 225px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Paradisaeidae
genus = "Lophorina"
genus_authority = Vieillot, 1816
species = "L. superba"
binomial = "Lophorina superba"
binomial_authority = (Pennant, 1781)The Superb Bird of Paradise, "Lophorina superba", is a small, approximately 26cm long, passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae family. It is the only member in the genus "Lophorina". The male is a black bird of paradise with an iridescent green crown, blue-green breast shield and a long velvety black erectile cape covering his back. The female is a reddish-brown bird with brownish barred buff below. The young is similar to the female.

The Superb Bird of Paradise is distributed throughout rainforests of New Guinea.

The male is polygamous and performs one of the most spectacular courtship displays in the avian world. Early in his performance he sings loud and rapid notes, then he starts to hop around in front of the female. Suddenly his folded black cape and blue-green breast shield springs upward and spreads widely around its head, transforming himself into a dancing ellipse-shaped creature.

Although heavily hunted for its plumes, the Superb Bird of Paradise is one of the most common and widespread birds of paradise in New Guinea forests. The Superb Bird of Paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=5820&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=51194 IUCN Red List]
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