Superb Bird-of-Paradise Facts, Habitat and Survival Threats

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Explore superb bird-of-paradise facts about why this extraordinary rainforest species is one of New Guinea’s most remarkable birds. The superb bird-of-paradise habitat is the rainforests West Papua and Papua New Guinea. On the forest floor is a cacophony of joy, as males perform elaborate courtship dances using iridescent black and blue plumage to change shape in front of watching females. This article explores superb bird-of-paradise threats, behaviour, diet and mating rituals. Dangers lurk in the form of hunting, palm oil expansion, gold mining, and timber deforestation across their range. Help this rainforest bird threatened by palm oil every time you shop! Take action and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Superb-bird-of-paradise Lophorina superba

Extant (resident): West Papua, Papua New Guinea.

Superb bird-of-paradise facts: appearance and behaviour

This incredible rainforest bird threatened by palm oil is approximately 26 cm long and are dimorphic. Males possess a stunning iridescent green crown, blue-green breast cover and a velvety, iridescent black cape covering their backs. This plumage is used primarily for elaborate and intricate mating displays.

Female Vogelkop Superb Birds of Paradise have russet coloured feathers with brownish buff coloured breast. Juvenile birds of both sexes appear like mature females with earthy russet coloured feathers.

Superb bird-of-paradise threats

Understanding superb bird-of-paradise facts is the first step towards fighting for their survival. The superb-bird-of-paradise’s main threat is forest loss which has increased enormously over the past decade.

Superb bird of paradise habitat

Superb bird-of-paradise are distributed throughout rainforests and forest edges of Papua New Guinea and West Papua. They are also found throughout the steep mountain ranges of New Guinea. Their range coincides with forest either in the process of being destroyed or earmarked for destruction for palm oil, mining and timber deforestation.

Diet

The superb bird-of-paradise is omnivorous and has been known to eat fruits, insects and larger animals such as reptiles, frogs and small birds. They forage throughout the tree canopy and the forest floor for insects and other foods depending on seasonal availability. Males of this species are territorial and will defend an area of around 1.2ha for food and mating rights.

Mating and reproduction

The competition between males for mating rights with females is fierce and aggressive. The superb bird-of-paradise has one of the most intricate and elaborate courtship displays of any animal in the world.

The first part of the courtship display involves simple movements. After this, males dance and scrub the dirt to make way on the dancefloor for a ‘high intensity display’. Following this, males call to females with a loud and raucous call. The curious female approaches and watches. He spirals and furls out his feathers into a riotous display and black and bright blue feathers into a semi-circular shield shape. He dances in front of the female and snaps his tail feathers, similar to clicking one’s fingers.

The dancing courtship display of males to females can take many hours each day.

The female will typically reject 15-20 suitors before consenting to mate. The males will usually mate with more than one female.

Females will nest at the top of tree canopies using soft leaves and produce between 1-3 eggs in a clutch. These eggs take 16-22 days for incubation and following hatching, chicks will become indepedent after 16-30 days.

Female superb-bird’s-of-paradise reach sexual maturity two years before the males, the latter requiring longer to develop his beautiful feathers for courtship.

Support Superb Bird of Paradises by boycotting palm oil in the supermarket, it’s the #Boycott4Wildlife

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

BirdLife International. 2020. Lophorina latipennis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T181524111A181564897. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T181524111A181564897.en. Accessed on 23 February 2023.

Greater lophorina/ Superb Bird of Paradise on Wikipedia  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_lophorina

Superb Bird of Paradise calling – https://xeno-canto.org/595939

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