The King bird-of-paradise is known for being a small bird with strikingly colorful plumage, which has earned it the nickname of a living jewel.
The bird-of-paradise family, scientifically known as Paradisaeidae, is home to the Cicinnurus regius or the king bird-of-paradise. These birds are easily recognizable due to their unique and stunning physical attributes, especially the males. The male bird boasts a bright red color all over its body, accompanied by two thin and elongated tail feathers that resemble wires. At the end of its tail, there is a circular display of green feathers that add to its splendor. The white belly of the bird contrasts sharply with the green stripe across its chest.
Aside from its unique melody, the male bird also flaunts two black markings above its eyes. Meanwhile, the female counterpart exhibits a less flamboyant color scheme, with an olive-brown shade on her back, head, and throat, and a combination of buff colors on her chest.
The King bird-of-paradise is a widely found bird species in Papua New Guinea and the nearby islands. They are exclusive to this area and can be spotted dwelling in diverse environments like lowland rainforests, gallery forests, forest edges and tall secondary forests.
Being a fruit-eating animal, the King bird-of-paradise’s primary source of food consists of fruits and arthropods to survive.
Male king birds-of-paradise engage in polygyny, meaning they attract and mate with multiple females. To impress potential mates, the male will stand tall on a branch, vibrate his wings, spread his pectoral feathers, and raise his tail over his head as he dances. He’ll even hang upside down and sway like a pendulum! Meanwhile, the female will build a nest in a tree cavity and lay up to two eggs, which she’ll incubate for 17 days until hatching. The female will then care for the chicks on her own until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
According to the IUCN, the King bird-of-paradise is widespread in its habitat. However, there is no current data on its population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its population levels have remained stable.
Take a moment to pay attention to the bird perched right below these lines: