Paradise Riflebird

The Paradise Riflebird (Lophorina paradisea) is found in the sub-tropical and temperate rainforests in eastern Australia. The species is sexually dimorphic (where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs). The male bird has black plumage with iridescent blue-green patches, whilst the female is gray-brown and white (as seen below).

A medium-sized bird, the male of the species are promiscuous. During the breeding season they perform solitary displays for the females, that involves the movement of the head, tilted back and a rapid side to side motion and showing off the neck plumage.

The name of “riflebird” comes from the likeness of the male black velvety plumage being like the colour of the uniform of the British Army Rifle Brigade.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paradisaeidae
Genus: Lophorina
Species: L. paradisea
Binomial name: Lophorina paradisea