Magnificent Riflebird
Ptiloris magnificus
Large songbird with a very long curved bill, found in rainforest on Cape York and in New Guinea. Males mostly black, with bright metallic blue metallic chest and crown and shaggy black flank plumes. Females brown above, pale with fine barred pattern below, strong white eyebrow, and brown moustachial mark. Call is a very three-note whistled phrase ("wee-oooo-whittt"), similar to the whistle humans use to say "come here!”
Identification
This riflebird is a medium-sized bird, being up to 34 cm long. The male is velvet-black bird-of-paradise with elongated black filamental flank plumes, an iridescent blue-green crown, a wide, triangle-shaped breast shield, and on central tail feathers. It has a black curved bill, yellow mouth, blackish feet and a dark brown iris. The female is brownish with dark spots and buff bars below with a white brow. The immature male resembles the male but with less tail plumes.
Taxonomy
The magnificent riflebird was formally described in 1819 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot under the binomial name Falcinellus magnificus. It is now placed in the genus Ptiloris that was introduced in 1825 by the English naturalist William Swainson. The common name "riflebird" comes from the likeness of their black velvety plumage to the uniform of the British Army Rifle Brigade.<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Ptiloris magnificus
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1819)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Genus
- Ptiloris
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The diet of the magnificent riflebird consists mainly of fruits and a variety of invertebrates such as spiders, millipedes, etc. Males are polygamous and perform solitary courtship displays on a 'dancing perch'. During these displays, the male fully extends his wings and raises his tail; he jerks upward while swinging his head from side to side, showing off his metallic blue-green breast shield, and producing a distinctive "woosh" sound as he flaps his wings. Multiple females will observe these displays, and, if satisfied with the performance, reward the male with mating rights. Females subsequently build nests, incubate, brood, and feed young without male assistance.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Hemixos castanonotus
Attractive songbird of forested lowlands and foothills, as well as adjacent parks, farms, and gardens. Chestnut-brown above, white below, with blackish crown and wings and gray wash on breast. Usually found in small to medium-sized flocks, occasionally mixing with other species. Song a distinctive series of three notes with the last being a soft, hoarse whistle; calls include chatters and rattles.
Burrowing Owl
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Small, long-legged owl of open grassy habitats. Appears brown at a distance with irregular white spotting. Yellow eyes. Typically found on the ground or perched on low fence posts or rocks. Active during day and night when it hunts mainly for insects and small mammals. When agitated, it stands erect and abruptly bows down. Nests in a burrow, often dug by a prairie dog or tortoise.
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Medium-sized chunky pigeon that is dark blue with a maroon tail. Appears short-tailed in flight. Found in and around rainforest in eastern, central, and northern Madagascar. Most often seen perched up conspicuously on emergent trees, feeding on fruiting trees, or in flight in small flocks. Virtually silent, which is very unusual for a pigeon. Dark-blue coloration separates it from all other pigeons on Madagascar.
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