One of the 3 birds-of-paradise on WAnimals
Birds · Passeriformes · Paradisaeidae
Western Superb Bird-of-Paradise
Lophorina superba
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
The superb bird-of-paradise is famous for the strangest courtship display in the animal kingdom. The male, velvety black, raises a cape of mantle feathers above his head and an iridescent blue breast shield, forming an oval figure that looks like a smiling face floating in the dark. He then hops around the female, clicking his tail feathers. His velvety black absorbs more than 99.9% of the light that falls on it.
Weight
74 g – 90 g
Size
25 cm – 26 cm
Lifespan
15 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- reproducciónThe male spreads a cape of black feathers that soak up as much as 99.95% of the light falling on them, a black so deep that his bill and eyes seem to float as he displays.
- taxonomíaWhat was taken for a single species for decades was split into two in 2018, after differences in the courtship dance and in the anatomy were analysed.
- Its black plumage is one of the darkest biological materials known: it absorbs up to 99.95% of visible light thanks to brush-shaped microstructures on the barbs of the feathers, a black comparable to the ultra-black materials made in laboratories.
- That extreme black is not decorative in itself: it makes the iridescent blue of the breast shield appear to float free of any context, heightening the illusion of a face with two shining eyes.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Montane and mossy forest of New Guinea, between 1,000 and 2,300 metres
- Sexual maturity
- 4 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 18 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 1 egg
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lophorina_superba
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Western Superb Bird-of-Paradise — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Greater Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea apoda
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Cicinnurus respublica
EndangeredSouthern Cassowary
Casuarius casuarius
Frilled Lizard
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Moluccan Eclectus
Eclectus roratus
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