When it comes to birds of paradise, they are well-known for their brilliantly colored feathers. And this is the bird that rises above the others.
Let’s meet the king of the paradise birds.
Male birds will have a vivid metallic crimson hue when they reach maturity, which will gradually become orange under certain lighting. This may be seen most prominently on their crown. Their breasts are white with a short border of dark green iridescent hue.
The male birds, in particular, have green-tipped plumes on both sides of their shoulders with fan-like formations. They also have two wire-like tail feather shafts with two circular swirls of brilliant green feather on the tips, which are joined by two circular swirls of a bright green feather. During the mating season, they will employ this specialized equipment to attract females.
Female birds, on the other hand, have a much more subdued appearance. Their backs, heads, and tails are painted olive-brown, while their chests are variegated buff. Violet legs and an ivory-yellow beak are present in both sexes.
This species favors the lowland rain forest or woodland edge as a habitat. They are only found in New Guinea and its neighboring islands, such as Aru, Salawati, Missol, and Yapen. They may eat a wide range of fruits as well as arthropods. When they’re looking for insects in the lower forest, they frequently band together with other birds.
The breeding season for the king bird-of-paradise is long, lasting at least from March to October. After mating, the male of a polygynous species will continue to seek other females. Complicated dancing movements, feather manipulations, body posturing, and intricate vocalizations are all part of the courting ritual. Male birds will spread their pectoral feathers, twist their tails forward, and make acrobatic maneuvers such as hanging upside down and swinging like a pendulum.
The female bird will build a nest in a tree hollow after mating and then lay two eggs within. The incubation period is 17 days, and when the chicks hatch, she will look after them without the help of her partner. Female birds, surprisingly, may mate with other bird-of-paradise species, since hybrids between the King and Magnificent bird-of-paradise have previously been identified.
The king bird-of-paradise population is estimated to be in decline owing to habitat degradation and overhunting. They are, nevertheless, a common and widespread species in their natural environment of New Guinea and the western satellite islands. As a result, the IUCN has classified the king bird-of-paradise as Least Concern.
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