Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise

ANIMAL:
Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise Paradisaea raggiana

Type of Animal:
Songbird

Habitat:
Forest, forest edges, gardens, trees in open deforested areas

Location(s):
S & E New Guinea

Appearance:
Male has yellow cowl/hood, dark emerald green throat, maroon brown body/wings, yellow collar, blackish upper breast feathers, long black tail wires, large flank plumes varying from deep red to apricot-orange in color. Female much drabber than male being maroonish-brown & having much shorter tail. Both sexes have greyish-blue bill, greyish-brown feet, & yellow eyes. 

Food/Diet:
Fruit, berries, insects, insect larvae, spiders, frogs, lizards, small snakes, nectar, seeds

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife centers

Lifestyle:
Females are solitary. Males solitary or in small groups of 5-10. Males often display in leks (breeding aggregations). 

Additional Info:

Called:
Male: Cock
Female: Hen
Young: Chick
Group: Party

Weight:
Male: 8.25-10.5 oz
Female: 4.69-7.76 oz
Young: 3 oz

Gestation:
3 weeks

Life Span:
12-16 years

Height:
Male: 1.11-1.12 ft
Female: 1.08 ft

Body Length:
Male: 1.11-1.12 ft
Female: 1.08 ft

Tail Length:
Male: 2.5-3 ft
Female: 1-1.3 ft

Main predators are snakes, raptors, cats, canids, monitor lizards, & rats.

Males display in leks (breeding aggregations)-most often among clusters of tall slender trees. Males compete for best perches-more dominant males get best perches. Males raise tail feathers over head/back, hopping along branches w/ head lowered/raised & extending wings. Males also clap wings/shake heads.

These birds are important seed dispersers.

Sometimes hybridize w/ other bird-of-paradise species.

Chicks fledge at 3-3.5 weeks but stay w/ mom for longer. Females typically rear 1-2 chicks.

Males make loud crow-like calls during breeding periods.

Bowl-shaped nests lined w/ horsehair-like material & usually 6.5-36 ft off the ground. 

Wings often produce mechanical sounds during courtship displays.

While maturity reached at 2-3 years old, many males may not get full plumage until 6-7 years old.

Fun Fact(s):
Some local tribes believe these are “birds of the gods” & that they never touch ground.

Natives use plumes as ceremonial headdresses.

Some leks have been in continuous use for over 20 years.

These birds along w/ other bird-of-paradise species inspired name of bird-of-paradise flowers.

These birds national bird of Papua New Guinea.

Also known as Count Raggi’s Bird-of-Paradise, kumul, & cenderawasih. In fact, Papua New Guinea’s national rugby team nicknamed “Kumuls” meaning “birds-of-paradise” in Tok Pisin language of that country.

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