Photo by Xenospiza
Aluakambe, Tari Valley, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea, July 2006
- Lophorina superba
Alternative name: Greater Superb Bird-of-Paradise
Identification
Male 26cm, female 25cm.
Male
- Velvety jet-black head
- Iridescent metallic green-blue crown
- Velvety jet-black erectile nuchal cape with dark olive-green iridescence
- Black back and rump
- Velvety jet-black throat with dark olive-green sheen
- Metallic greenish-blue breast shield
- Slightly glossy black underparts
- Dark brown eye
- Black bill
- Lemon-yellow to lime-green mouth
- Blackish legs
Female
- Blackish-brown head and nape with short line of tiny whitish spots as postocular line
- Similar submoustachial stripe
- Cryptically brown and rufous coloured upperparts
- Whitish-grey chin and throat
- Pale buff to olive-tinged brown (latipennis) underparts, narrowly barred blackish-brown
Juveniles and immature are similar to females.
Similar species
Females can be confused with females of Magnificent Riflebird (note bill length) and some female Parotias.
Distribution
Endemic to the mountains of New Guinea.
Locally common and often most common Bird-of-Paradise in its altitudinal range.
Taxonomy
Formerly treated as part of Superb Bird-of-Paradise together with Vogelkop Lophorina and Lesser Lophorina.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized[1].
- Greater Superb Bird-of-Paradise (Lophorina superba)
- L. s. superba:
- Montane western New Guinea, from the Kobowre Mountains (West Papua, Indonesia) to the Sepik-Strickland River Divide (western Papua New Guinea)
- L. s. addenda:
- Eastern ranges of New Guinea, from the Yuat-Strickland River Divide and the base of the southeastern Peninsula, Papua New Guinea
- L. s. latipennis:
- Eastern New Guinea (mountains of the Huon Peninsula, and presumably also the Herzog and Adelbert Ranges)
The proposed subspecies connectens is usually treated as a synonym of latipennis.
Hybrids with Long-tailed Paradigalla, Western Parotia, Carola's Parotia, Magnificent Riflebird, Black Sicklebill and Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise recorded.
Habitat
Middle and upper montane forest. Also in disturbed forest and forest patches among gardens. Iccurs at 1000 - 2300m, mainly at 1650 - 1900m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mostly on fruits and a variety of arthropods.
Forages at all forest levels, usually singly.
Breeding
Breeds in any month across range, display observed from August to January. A polygynous species. The male advertises from a traditional high perch and performs its display. The female builds and attends the nest alone.
The courtship involves a static display and an animated dance. The erection of the nuchal cape and the pectoral shield are important features.
The nest is a rough cup, placed 1.5m or higher above the ground in a palm. Lays 1 - 2 eggs.
Movements
Presumably a resident species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Lophorina. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Lophorina
