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Superb Bird-of-Paradise

Lophorina superba


Where is it found?

Picture
Tropical forest

Diet and foraging method

Eats plants and animals
Feeds on fruit and invertebrates in the tree canopy.
Eats fruit
Eats molluscs
Eats insects

Key adaptations

Males possess an iridescent green-blue breast shield used to attract and impress females.

Social organisation and mating system

Picture
Solitary
Males carefully prepare a dance floor and show off to attract females. A female will often turn down around 15-20 mates per breeding season.
Lekking
Males form leks where they dance to impress females

Did you know that...?

Superb Birds-of-paradise can click! During their elaborate courtship routines, they click their feathers together to impress females.

Taxonomy

Picture

Picture credit:

Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
Photo: "Superb Bird of Paradise" by Natasha Baucas. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdnatasha/4514108926/in/photolist-7STZjf-ouVdHT-qvrmPb-qvGLFj-An5vx-qe5Wii-qvkceF-qtd22h-smgwsh-qedxWG-qvKmot-qvmZ3H-qtdMKL-qtwwxq-qzmaZH-qvB2tr-5qFbYa-nA8hnm-4Mixth-4Menwz-4Mixrd-9TRsCZ-7hW45S. License: Creation commons attribution-sharealive 2.0 generic (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)
Drawing: "Lophorina superba bis by Bowdler Sharpe" by Richard Bowdler Sharpe - http://www.oiseaux.net/photos/bowdler.sharpe/. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lophorina_superba_bis_by_Bowdler_Sharpe.jpg#/media/File:Lophorina_superba_bis_by_Bowdler_Sharpe.jpg
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