The king bird-of-paradise is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus Cicinnurus, although the genus Diphyllodes is closely related and is subsumed under Cicinnurus by many other authorities.
Region
New Guinea and surrounding islands
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and hill rainforests across New Guinea and nearby islands such as the Aru and Raja Ampat groups. It favors primary rainforest but also uses forest edges, riverine forest, and mature secondary growth. Birds typically forage in the mid-story to canopy, visiting fruiting trees and lianas. Males maintain display courts a few meters above the ground on open horizontal perches within dense forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The king bird-of-paradise is the smallest bird-of-paradise, famed for the male’s brilliant crimson plumage and twin tail wires tipped with emerald disk-like ornaments. Males perform intricate courtship displays on cleared perches, swinging like a pendulum and flashing flank plumes and tail disks. It is treated by the IOC as the sole member of Cicinnurus, closely related to Diphyllodes. Females alone build the nest and rear the young.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically solitary outside the breeding season. Males defend small display courts where they perform pendulum-like dances and wing flicks to attract females; they do not form large leks. The species is polygynous; females select mates, then build a small nest and raise 1–2 chicks without male assistance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are high-pitched, metallic ticks and whistles, often given in short series from a display perch. Males add buzzing or rasping notes during courtship, interspersed with sharp, carrying notes that penetrate the forest.
Plumage
Male with glossy crimson upperparts and head, contrasting clean white underparts, and metallic green highlights; female brownish-olive above with barred buffy underparts. Male sports two elongated tail wires ending in circular, iridescent green disks.
Diet
Primarily eats small fruits and berries, especially those of forest trees and lianas. Supplements the diet with insects and other arthropods gleaned from foliage and branches. Occasionally hawks for flying insects from a perch.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid-story and canopy of intact and lightly disturbed rainforest. Frequently visits fruiting trees and mixed-species foraging flocks when resources are abundant.
