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Out of the 42 species of Birds of Paradise, Australia has 4 - Magnificent Riflebird, Paradise Riflebird, Victoria's Riflebird and the Trumpet Manucode.
Victoria's is the local endemic here and I was lucky to see it displaying it's mating dance to attract a female. They display on the top of tree stumps in the rainforest usually around 4 to 5m high. Usually you only see them hunting for insects in the rainforest canopy 100ft up !
1. First up, call for her and show off that yellow mouth ! Typically, like most beautiful birds they have a raspy harsh call.
2. and puff up your iridescent throat and body feathers tipped with iridescence too. They become about 3 times wider than normal !
3. not working ? give it some wing display
4. he will do this facing different parts of the forest, hopping 90 degrees each time. What if she is behind him ? well he has that covered too !
5. he gets quite excited when he sees her !
6. he moves his head from side to side with his mouth open
7. The Full Monty !
8.Like a flash she arrives
9. He goes into full display mode, lifting one wing while hiding his head behind it and lowering the other and alternates it. She inspects the lowered wing and gives it a light peck.
10. and the other side
11. If she approves of his display he encircles her with his wings and mating occurs, she leaves and lays eggs and raises the young alone. He begins the search again for his next potential partner.
On this occasion, she decides it's not gonna happen and loses interest !
Wow, that is cool! Didn't know Australia had BoP. Good to know, in case I ever get down that way. Super set and commentary Andy. Congrats on capturing the various activities, including the Full Monty. That is a darned nice shot.
Morris - you're close mate, that pic is a type of heliconia though not bird of paradise plant (of which there are 5 varieties. It is actually a S.African native but seen throughout the tropical gardens of the world)
This is the bird of paradise plant - I have some in my garden. Not my pic btw.
what a diva
