The Raggiana bird-of-paradise, also known as Count Raggi's bird-of-paradise, is a large bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.
Region
New Guinea
Typical Environment
Occurs mainly in southeastern and northeastern Papua New Guinea, with populations in lowland and hill rainforests, forest edges, and secondary growth. It favors areas with abundant fruiting trees, especially figs, and uses traditional display trees for lekking. The species also occupies gallery forests along rivers and disturbed habitats near villages when fruit is plentiful. It is generally absent from the highest montane forests.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1700 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Raggiana bird-of-paradise, also called Count Raggi's bird-of-paradise, is the national bird of Papua New Guinea and appears on the country’s emblem. Males perform spectacular communal displays at traditional lek trees, fanning fiery red flank plumes and flashing an emerald throat. This species is a key seed disperser for many rainforest trees. Despite being sought after for its feathers historically, it remains common in much of its range.
Captive male and female
Flag of Papua New Guinea, which features the bird
![Like others of its family, the male has elaborate breeding plumage used to impress females.[6]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Raggiana_Bird-of-Paradise_wild_5.jpg/1280px-Raggiana_Bird-of-Paradise_wild_5.jpg)
Like others of its family, the male has elaborate breeding plumage used to impress females.[6]
Temperament
lekking and territorial males; females more secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches; agile in dense canopy
Social Behavior
Males gather at traditional leks on prominent display trees, where they court females with choreographed dances, wing flicks, and loud calls. Females choose mates and then nest alone, building a cup nest and raising the chicks without male assistance. Clutches are typically one to two eggs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, harsh screeches and repeated rasping notes that carry through the forest, especially at dawn. Displaying males also produce mechanical sounds with their wings and feathers during dance sequences.
Plumage
Male with luxuriant, silky flank plumes that range from deep red to orange-crimson, an iridescent green throat, yellowish crown, and chestnut-brown body; two long wire-like central tail feathers. Female is warm brown with paler underparts and lacks the ornate flank plumes.
Diet
Primarily consumes a wide variety of fruits, especially figs and other soft, lipid-rich fruits. Supplements diet with insects and other small arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark. By swallowing fruits whole and later dispersing seeds, it plays an important role in forest regeneration.
Preferred Environment
Forages mostly in the mid-story to canopy of primary and secondary rainforest, often visiting fruiting trees. Will also feed along forest edges, in gallery forest, and occasionally in agroforestry plots with fruiting plants.
