Common Names
Click on the language to view common names.
Common Names in English:
Superb Bird of Paradise, Superb Bird-Of-Paradise, Superb Paradise Bird
Common Names in French:
Paradisier Superbe
Common Names in German:
Kragenparadiesvogel
Description
Physical Description
Species Lophorina superba
Many people consider the Birds of Paradise among the most beautiful and interesting of all birds because of their spectacular plumage and intricate
mating dances
. Plumage varies from all black to red, orange and iridescent
green, to muted shades of brown. They are related to crows, and share such characteristics as strong
feet and toes, a strong beak, good flying endurance, and loud voices.
The male is black with an iridescent blue wedge-shaped breast shield
, which is permanently extended. He also has a velvety
black, erectile
cape
. The female is dull
in color and the same size--about 10 inches long. This is a widespread, common species in canopy
and middle
regions of the forests
. Each male has an individual territory.
Habitat
Ecology:
List of Habitats
:1.9Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane
Biology
Diet
Fruit, berries , insects, frogs and lizards.
Reproduction
There are about forty-three species of Birds of Paradise. The polygamous species are dimorphic
(different in appearance
); the males are elaborately plumed but the females are dull
. Females alone build the nest
and raise the young. Males and females of the monogamous species are generally dull-feathered and both sexes attend these nests and young. Females incubate the eggs
, usually two. Hatchlings
may be naked or with down
.
The Birds of Paradise are called "arena birds" because males establish carefully defined and tightly guarded territories called "leks
" where they attract mates by dancing and displaying. In the wild, the males and females have little contact with one another except during breeding season
.
Behavior
Birds of Paradise are largely solitary tree dwellers. Each species has a characteristic vocalization--loud, shrill call , harsh shriek, or prolonged whistle. Their flight is slow. They are not migratory.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom:
Animalia
(
)
- animals
- Phylum:
Chordata
()
- Chordates
- Class:
Aves
()
- Birds
- Order:
Passeriformes
()
- Perching Birds
- Subfamily:
Corvinae
()
- Tribe:
Paradisaeini
()
- Genus:
Lophorina
()
- Vieillot 1816 Analyse p.35
- Specific name:
superba
- (Forster,JR) 1781 IndischeZool. p.40 Author
- Scientific name: - Lophorina superba (Forster,JR) 1781
- Specific name:
superba
- (Forster,JR) 1781 IndischeZool. p.40 Author
- Genus:
Lophorina
(
- Tribe:
Paradisaeini
(
- Subfamily:
Corvinae
(
- Order:
Passeriformes
(
- Class:
Aves
(
- Phylum:
Chordata
(
Notes
Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001
Similar Species
Members of the genus Lophorina
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 7 species and subspecies in this genus:
L. superba (Superb Bird of Paradise) · L. superba connectens · L. superba feminina · L. superba latipennis · L. superba minor · L. superba pseudoparotia · L. superba superba (Superb Bird of Paradise)
More Info
- Search for Pictures: images.google.com
- Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
- Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- A bibliography of birds: with special reference to anatomy, behavior, biochemistry --. by Reuben Myron Strong Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History, 1959 UND url p. 106, p. 319.
- Aggiunte alla ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche / per Tommaso Salvadori. Torino: Ermanno Loescher, 1889-1891. ITA url p. 150.
- Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, -1965. ENG url p. 563.
- Archiv für Naturgeschichte. Berlin: Nicolai, 1835- GER url p. 17.
- BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, U.K.
- BirdLife International. 2004 Threatened Birds of the World 2004. CD-ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.
- Bulletin de la Société linnéenne de Normandie. Lons-le-Saunier [etc.]The Society. FRE url p. 91.
- Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France. Paris: La Société, FRE url p. 219, p. 62.
- Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). London: BM(NH) ENG url p. 242.
- Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum. London, 1874-98. ENG url p. 179.
- Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des sciences. Paris: Gauthier-Villars. FRE url p. 131.
- Encyclopédie d'histoire naturelle; ou, Traité complet de cette science d'après les travaux des naturalistes les plus éminents de tous les pays et de toutes les époques: Buffon, Daubenton, Lacépède, G. Cuvier, F. Cuvier, Geoffroy Saint- Ouvrage résumant le Paris: Marescq et compagnie [et] Gustave Havard. .., [1850?-1861?] FRE url p. 71.
- Handbuch der zoologie: Nach der zweiten holländischen ausgabe. Leipzig: L. Voss, 1850-56. GER url p. 507.
- Ibis. [London]Published for the British Ornithologists' Union by Academic Press. ENG url p. 244, p. 498, p. 90.
- Lehrbuch der praktischen vergleichenden Anatomie / Carl Vogt und Emil Yung. Braunschweig: Vieweg, 1888-1894. GER url p. 824.
- Memorie della Reale accademia delle scienze di Torino Torino: Stamperia reale, 1818-1942. ITA url p. 276.
- Novitates Zoologicae. London. url p. 11, p. 12, p. 128, p. 282.
- Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche: parte prima-[terza] / di Tommaso Salvadori. Torino: Stamperia reale G.B. Paravia e co. di I. Vigliardi, 1880-1882. ITA url p. 635.
- Postilla. New Haven, Peabody Museum of Natural History, 1950-2004. ENG url p. 30.
- Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée. recueil mensuel Par F. E. Guérin-Méneville; avec la collaboration scientifique de A. Focillon. Paris: Au Bureau de la Revue et Magasin de Zoologie. FRE url p. 124.
- The myology of the raven (Corvus corax sinuatus.) A guide to the study of the muscular system in birds. By R. W. Shufeldt. London, Macmillan and co., 1890. ENG url p. 327.
- The standard natural history. Ed. by John Sterling Kingsley. Boston, S.E. Cassino and company, 1884-85. ENG url p. 522.
- Zoologischer Anzeiger. Jena, VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag. GER url p. 317, p. 428, p. 494.
Notes
Contributors
- BirdLife International 2004. In IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCNRedList.org. Downloaded July 18, 2008.
- Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed October 11, 2006.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 09, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
- Honolulu Zoo
- Peterson, Alan P. Zoological Nomenclature Resource. Accessed June 19, 2009.
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 09, 2008:
- Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 3847224
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-560875
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 560875
- IUCN ID: 51194
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 131557
