Superb bird-of-paradise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greater lophorina |
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| Male greater lophorina | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lophorina
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| Species: |
superba
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| Synonyms | |
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The greater lophorina (Lophorina superba), also known as the superb bird-of-paradise, is a type of bird-of-paradise. These amazing birds are famous for their bright colors and unique dances. Until 2017, scientists thought there was only one species of superb bird-of-paradise. Now, we know there are actually three different species!
Contents
What it Looks Like
This bird is quite small, about 26 centimeters (10 inches) long.
The male greater lophorina is mostly black. It has a shiny green crown on its head and a blue-green patch on its chest. It also has a long, soft black cape of feathers that can stand up on its back.
The female looks different. She is reddish-brown with brownish stripes on her belly. Young birds look similar to the female. This difference between males and females is called sexual dimorphism.
Amazing Courtship Dance
There are not many female greater lophorinas, so males compete a lot to find a mate. This means they have one of the most amazing courtship displays in the bird world!
The male first gets ready by cleaning a special "dance floor" on the ground or a branch. He might even use leaves to make it smooth. Then, he calls loudly to attract a female.
When a female comes close, the male transforms! His black feather cape and blue-green chest feathers pop up and spread out. This makes him look like a big, oval-shaped creature. He then snaps his tail feathers together, like snapping fingers, while hopping in circles around the female.
Females are very picky! On average, a female will say no to 15 to 20 males before choosing one. The male's dance can last for many hours. Male greater lophorinas often mate with more than one female.
Where it Lives
The greater lophorina lives in the rainforests of New Guinea. You can find it in the forests of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. They often live in mountainous parts of these forests.
These birds usually stay high up in the trees of the rainforest.
What it Eats
The greater lophorina moves through the trees to find its food. What it eats can change depending on what is available during different seasons.
They eat fruits and insects. But they have also been seen hunting larger animals like frogs, reptiles, and even other small birds! Sometimes, they look for insects on the forest floor. Male superb birds-of-paradise are known to protect their territory, which can be as small as 1.2 hectares (about 3 acres). Within this area, they search for fruits and insects.
Who Hunts Them
Birds of prey and snakes are known predators of the superb bird-of-paradise.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Greater lophorinas build their nests high in trees. They use soft materials like leaves that they find in the forest.
When they reproduce, females usually lay 1 to 3 eggs in a nest. The eggs hatch after about 16 to 22 days. The young chicks can leave the nest and live on their own within 16 to 30 days.
Male superb birds-of-paradise take longer to grow up than females. It takes about two more years for males to become adults. Also, it takes about 4 to 7 years for males to grow the special feathers they need for their courtship dances.
Status
Even though people used to hunt them a lot for their beautiful feathers, the greater lophorina is one of the most common birds of paradise in New Guinea's forests.
It is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It is also listed on Appendix II of CITES, which helps control trade of the species to protect it.
Subspecies
- Lophorina superba connectens
- Lophorina superba feminina
- Lophorina superba latipennis
- Lophorina superba pseudoparotia
- Lophorina superba superba
The crescent-caped lophorina and lesser lophorina were once thought to be types of greater lophorina. However, in 2017, scientists decided they were separate species.
Gallery
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Adult Male perched.
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Lophorina superba, male. Museum specimen
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Early drawing of a male next to a male King Bird-of-Paradise.
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Bird-life (1899) (14563469239.jpg
Early drawing of a male perched underneath a male King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise.
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Illustration of a male (front view).
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Illustration of a male (back view).
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An illustration showing early ideas of a male Lophorina superba and other bird-of-paradise species.
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Early illustration of Lophorina superba by John Gould.
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See also
In Spanish: Ave del paraíso soberbia para niños
