The magnificent riflebird is a species of passerine bird in the birds-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.
Region
New Guinea and Aru Islands
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and hill rainforests, favoring primary forest but also using well-developed secondary forest, riverine forest, and forest edges. It forages mainly in the mid- to upper-canopy and frequents fruiting trees. Males select elevated open perches within forest gaps for display. Present across much of New Guinea and some adjacent islands where suitable evergreen forest persists.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The magnificent riflebird is a birds-of-paradise species famed for the male’s dramatic courtship dance, where he raises rounded wings to form a dark oval and flashes a shimmering blue-green breast shield. The name “riflebird” comes from the velvety black plumage resembling 19th‑century British riflemen’s uniforms. Males maintain and meticulously clean display perches in light gaps of the forest. Females alone build the nest and rear the young.
Nominate male specimen at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Note its brilliant, scaly, iridescent, delta-shaped breast plate.
Nominate female at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Note the exceptional sexual dimorphism present in the species.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Polygynous: males advertise from fixed perches and perform elaborate dances for visiting females. They maintain small display territories and may form loose, dispersed leks. Females select the mate, then build a cup nest of leaves and fibers and raise the young without male assistance.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The male gives loud, ringing and rasping notes, often a repeated, drawn-out call used to attract females to the display perch. Additional harsh churring and wheezy phrases are interspersed with the display sequence.
Plumage
Male is velvet-black with a highly iridescent blue-green breast shield and sheen on crown and throat; feathers appear glossy and scale-like on the chest. Female is warm brown above with buff to rufous underparts densely barred and a pale eyebrow (supercilium).
Diet
Takes a mixed diet of fruits (especially figs and other soft drupes) and arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. Gleans insects from foliage and bark and occasionally probes epiphytes for hidden prey. Will join mixed-species flocks at fruiting trees when resources are abundant.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mainly in the mid- to upper-canopy, visiting fruiting trees along forest edges and within interior light gaps. Also uses river margins and tall secondary growth with mature fruiting trees.
