paradise riflebird

The paradise riflebird was formally described in 1825 by the English naturalist William Swainson under the current binomial name Ptiloris paradiseus.{{ cite journal | last=Swainson | first=William | author-link=William Swainson | year=1825 | title=On the characters and natural affinities of several new birds from Australasia; including some observations on the Columbidae | journal=Zoological Journal | volume=1 | pages=463–484 [479] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13382329 }}{{Cite journal|last=McAllan|first=Ian | date=2007 |title=On the Type Locality of some Australian birds described by William Swainson | journal=Australian Field Ornithology | volume=24 | pages=70–77 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274638795 }} It is one of the four riflebird species that are now placed in the genus Ptiloris. The common name "riflebird" comes from the likeness of their black velvety plumage to the uniform of the British Army Rifle Brigade.{{cite book|last1=Fraser|first1=I.|title=Australian Bird Name - a complete guide|last2=Gray|first2=J.|date=2013|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|location=Collingwood, Victoria, Australia}}

There are no recognised subspecies of the paradise riflebird.{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2022 | title=Crows, mudnesters, melampittas, Ifrit, birds-of-paradise | work=IOC World Bird List Version 12.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/crows/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | accessdate=2 February 2022 }} It is similar in appearance to the other riflebird species, with males having similar iridescent blue-green patches and females appearing gray-brown with barred-patterned underparts.

The paradise riflebird is a medium-sized bird, with males averaging about 30 cm (11.8 in) in height and weighing on average 134 to 155 g (4.7 to 5.5 oz). Females are slightly smaller, averaging at 29 cm (11.4 in) and weighing on average 86 to 112 g (3.0 to 3.9 oz). Both sexes have a long, black, decurved bill, black legs, and dark brown iris.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hbw.com/species/paradise-riflebird-lophorina-paradisea|title=Paradise Riflebird (Lophorina paradisea)|website=www.hbw.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}

The species is sexually dimorphic, with few similarities in plumage between males and females. The adult male is black with an iridescent greenish blue crown, throat, and central tail feathers, as well as iridescent green on the lower breast and flank. The central tail feathers are shortened, giving an appearance of blue over black along the tail. It has been suggested that some of the male's feathers are super black feathers. These feathers have been modified so that their barbules structurally absorb light, unlike normal black feathers, which emphasizes a darker appearance. These specialized feathers are found adjacent to brightly colored patches, suggesting that they help create optical illusions during courtship displays by exaggerating the bright colors they are juxtaposed to.{{Cite journal|last1=McCoy|first1=Dakota E.|last2=Feo|first2=Teresa|last3=Harvey|first3=Todd Alan|last4=Prum|first4=Richard O.|date=2018-01-09|title=Structural absorption by barbule microstructures of super black bird of paradise feathers|journal=Nature Communications|volume=9|issue=1|pages=1|doi=10.1038/s41467-017-02088-w|pmid=29317637|pmc=5760687|issn=2041-1723|bibcode=2018NatCo...9....1M}}

The adult female is gray-brown, with rufous coloration on the primary and secondary wing feathers, save for a white streak on the supercilium, white throat, and lighter brown with a barred pattern running down the breast, flanks, and belly. Compared to the male, the adult female has a notably longer, more decurved bill.{{Cite journal|last=Frith|first=Clifford|date=1997-09-01|title=Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris: Callaeidae) - Like sexual bill dimorphism in some birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae) and its significance|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286996927|journal=Notornis|volume=44|pages=177–184}}

There has been little record of juvenile appearance. Juveniles of both sexes resemble the adult female, with gray-brown feathers.

Like the Victoria's riflebird and the growling riflebird, the paradise riflebird has a growling voice.{{Cite journal|last1=Beehler|first1=Bruce M.|last2=Swaby|first2=R. J.|date=August 1991|title=Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Ptiloris riflebirds (Aves: Paradisaeidae)|journal=The Condor|volume=93|issue=3|pages=738–745|doi=10.2307/1368206|issn=0010-5422|jstor=1368206|s2cid=45113770}} The male is known for its powerful “yaassss” call, often repeated once at a time and lasting around 2 seconds.

File:Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) (31418919975).jpg

File:Paradise Riflebird (32253202071).jpg File:Paradise Riflebird pauses for a brief moment while searching for insects.jpg

The paradise riflebird is endemic to eastern Australia, from New South Wales to Queensland, where it inhabits rainforests. It resides in the rainforest canopy, above {{cvt|500|m|ft|0}} in elevation, though has been known to move to lower elevations, sometimes below {{cvt|200|m|ft|0}}, in winter. It is primarily a sedentary species with a low population density.{{Cite journal|last1=Pavlacky|first1=David C.|last2=Possingham|first2=Hugh P.|last3=Goldizen|first3=Anne W.|date=August 2015|title=Integrating life history traits and forest structure to evaluate the vulnerability of rainforest birds along gradients of deforestation and fragmentation in eastern Australia|journal=Biological Conservation|volume=188|pages=89–99|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2014.10.020|issn=0006-3207}} However, it has been known to migrate locally, moving from wet rainforests to nearby sclerophyll forests.

The paradise riflebird mainly feeds on insects and fruit, high in the forest canopy. Occasionally, individuals may form foraging aggregations of 6-7 birds. Normally, however, it is a solitary, dispersed, non-territorial bird.{{Cite journal|last1=Beehler|first1=Bruce|last2=Pruett-Jones|first2=Stephen G.|date=September 1983|title=Display dispersion and diet of birds of paradise: a comparison of nine species|journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|volume=13|issue=3|pages=229–238|doi=10.1007/bf00299927|s2cid=21374280|issn=0340-5443}}

Breeding occurs from August to February, during the spring to summer months in Australia. Like other birds of paradise, the paradise riflebird is promiscuous and polygynous. The male paradise riflebird performs a solitary display to females from perches of low-hanging, exposed canopy.{{Cite journal|title=Evolution of correlated complexity in the radically different courtship signals of birds-of-paradise|last1=Ligon|first1=Russell A.|last2=Diaz|first2=Christopher D.|date=2018-06-20|last3=Morano|first3=Janelle L.|last4=Troscianko|first4=Jolyon|last5=Stevens|first5=Martin|last6=Moskeland|first6=Annalyse|last7=Laman|first7=Timothy G.|last8=Scholes|first8=Edwin|journal=PLOS Biology|volume=16|issue=11|pages=e2006962|doi = 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006962|biorxiv=10.1101/351437|pmid=30457985|pmc=6245505|doi-access=free}} Although individuals of the species are generally non-territorial, males are presumed to display territorial behavior over these perches during the mating season. The courtship display is composed of rapid side-to-side movements of the wings, which are held horizontally similar to other riflebirds, and head, with a gaping mouth and the iridescent blue-green sheen on the throat exposed. It is also suggested that males have super black feathers which help to create an optical illusion during courtship that emphasizes the iridescent patches they are adjacent to.

The female paradise riflebird raises offspring alone. Paradise riflebird nests are comparable to Victoria's riflebird nests in shape, but are larger and bulkier. Clutch size, on average, is 2 eggs.

The paradise riflebird has been hunted by humans for its plumage.{{Cite journal|last=DAVIS|first=WILLIAM E.|date=September 2007|journal=The Wilson Journal of Ornithology|volume=119|issue=3|pages=516–517|doi=10.1676/1559-4491(2007)119[516:hoanza]2.0.co;2|issn=1559-4491|title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, & Antarctic Birds (Hanzab). Volume 7. Boatbills to Starlings}} It is highly vulnerable to deforestation and rainforest fragmentation due to its sedentary lifestyle and low population density, and has lost much of its original habitat. Currently, it is listed as a species of Least Concern, though its numbers are declining.

File:ParadiseRiflebird.jpg|Female in Lamington National Park

File:Paradisaeidae - Ptiloris paradiseus.JPG|Ptiloris paradiseus. Museum specimen

File:Paradise Riflebird cairncross95.ogv|Paradise Riflebird from Maleny, SE Queensland

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Ptiloris paradiseus}}

{{Wikispecies|Ptiloris paradiseus}}

{{NIE Poster|Rifle-bird|year=1905}}

{{Birds-of-paradise}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1194025}}

paradise riflebird

Category:Birds of New South Wales

Category:Birds of Queensland

paradise riflebird

Category:Endemic birds of Australia

Category:Articles containing video clips

Category:Taxa named by William Swainson