Superb bird-of-paradise
The superb bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) is a small passerine, about 26cm long and 70 g in weight. It is one of two members in the genus Lophorina. The male is a black bird-of-paradise with a shining green crown, blue-green breast shield and a long velvety black erectile cape covering his back. The female is a reddish-brown bird with brownish barred buff below.
| Superb bird-of-paradise | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lesser superb bird-of-paradise (Lophorina minor) | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Paradisaeidae |
| Genus: | Lophorina Vieillot, 1816 |
The superb bird-of-paradise lives in the rainforests of New Guinea.
The male is polygamous and performs a song and dance for to gain the interest of the female. He starts by singing loud and rapid notes, then he starts to hop around in front of the female making a tapping or clicking sound. Then, he uses his folded black cape and blue-green breast shield to spring upward and spreads widely around its head, making him a dancing ellipse-shaped creature.
Superb Bird-of-paradise Media
A male Superb Bird of Paradise in Papua New Guinea.
Lophorina superba, male. Museum specimen
Lophorina superba superba (Pennant, 1781)
Lophorina superba feminina Grant, 1915
Lophorina superba latipennis Rothschild, 1907
Early conception of a male perched underneath a male King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise (Pteridophora alberti).
Illustration of a male (front).
Illustration of a male (back).
Lophorina superba feminina Grant, 1915
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References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Lophorina superba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 16 July 2012.