Family Birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae)

Vulnerable

Blue Bird-of-paradise (Paradisornis rudolphi)

figure, drawing, illustration of Blue Bird-of-paradise (Paradisornis rudolphi)

Taxonomy

French: Paradisier bleu German: Blauparadiesvogel Spanish: Ave del paraíso azul
Taxonomy:

Paradisornis Rudolphi

Finsch and A. B. Meyer

, 1885,

Hufeisengebirge [Horseshoe Mountains = Mount Maguli], south-eastern New Guinea

.

Hybridization with Parotia lawesii and Paradisaea raggiana recorded. Proposed race ampla (Mt Missim, in SE New Guinea) included in nominate. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • P. r. margaritae (Mayr & Gilliard, 1951) – EC New Guinea (Tari area, Enga Highlands, Sepik–Wahgi Divide, Kubor Range, Mt Giluwe, Mt Hagen, Mt Karimui, Bismarck Range).
  • P. r. rudolphi Finsch & A. B. Meyer, 1885 – SE New Guinea from Eastern Highlands (Okapa) and Herzog Mts SE to Owen Stanley Range.

    • Descriptive notes

    Male 30 cm (excluding tail wires), 158–189 g; female 30 cm, 124–166 g. Male nominate race has head, neck and mantle glossy jet-black with iridescent bronzed-green... read more

    Voice

    Advertisment call of male "kwank", reminisent of that of P. raggiana but lower-... read more

    Habitat

    Lower montane forest, forest edge, and denser older secondary growth of fallow gardens; 1100–... read more

    Food and feeding

    Mostly fruits, especially figs (Ficus), drupes, berries; also some animals, mostly arthropods, possibly lizards. Forages in high... read more

    Breeding

    Across species' range breeding can occur at any time of year, mostly Jul–Feb; egg-laying Apr, nestling Nov–Dec, and newly... read more

    Movements

    Presumably resident.

    Status and conservation

    VULNERABLE. Restricted to the eastern Central Ranges of Papua New Guinea, part of the Central Papuan Mountains EBA. CITES II. Uncommon throughout range; absent from some... read more

    Recommended citation

    Frith, C., Frith, D. & Sharpe, C.J. (2019). Blue Bird-of-paradise (Paradisornis rudolphi). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/60668 on 19 January 2019).