Victoria’s Riflebird

Description:

Adults, 23 cm. Adult males jet black with iridescent greenish blue crown and breast shield, underparts with bronze-yellow sheen and central pair of tail feather greenish blue. Female greyish brown above, with narrow pale line above eye and underparts rich cinnamon with small dark chevrons.

Habitat:

Rainforest

Notes:

Diet: Small animals, including insects, insect larvae and spiders, and fruit. Courtship Polygymous. Solitary male displays and sings at traditional perches, defending these sites from other males each season (July-December). Courtship begins with static posture, which develops into several movements and postures. Twisting wings and swinging head, male moves towards female and claps wings aggressively, encircling and almost hitting her with wings. Breeding: Breeding occurs least August-February. Only female builds and attends to nest, which is built 20 m from ground, in new foliage atop broken tree stump or branch. Incubation 18-19 days; nestling period of 13-15 days. No known hybridisation; does not share habitat with any other bird of paradise.