Family Birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae)

Least Concern

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)

figure, drawing, illustration of Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)

Taxonomy

French: Paradisier de Raggi German: Raggiparadiesvogel Spanish: Ave del paraíso de Raggi
Taxonomy:

Paradisea raggiana

P. L. Sclater

, 1873,

Orangerie Bay, extreme south-east New Guinea

.

Hybridization recorded with P. minor, P. apoda, P. guilielmi and Paradisornis rudolphi. Race salvadorii sometimes included in nominate. Proposed race granti (inland from Huon Gulf) is an intergrade between intermedia and augustaevictoriae#R; two last-mentioned races hybridize in region of lower Mambare R. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution
  • P. r. salvadorii Mayr & Rand, 1935 – S & SE New Guinea from Fly/Strickland watershed E (extending into interior highland valleys, e.g. Wahgi and Tari Valleys) to Cloudy Bay.
  • P. r. augustaevictoriae Cabanis, 1888 – upper Ramu R and Huon Peninsula (and interior valleys to S, i.e. those of Markham, Wafa, Watut and Bulolo Rivers), and also SE to Waria R watershed and coastally to lower Mambare R.
  • P. r. intermedia De Vis, 1894 – N coast of SE New Guinea from lower Mambare R E to Collingwood Bay.
  • P. r. raggiana P. L. Sclater, 1873 – S watershed of SE New Guinea from Cloudy Bay E to Milne Bay, and into N watershed as far as Goodenough Bay or Cape Vogel.

    • Descriptive notes

    Male 34 cm (excluding tail wires), 234–300 g; female 33 cm, 133–220 g. Male nominate race has lores, forehead, ear-coverts, malar area, chin and throat iridescent... read more

    Voice

    Advertisement call of lekking males a series of loud far-carrying cries, increasing in intensity... read more

    Habitat

    Lowland forest, hill forest and lower montane forest, secondary growth, forest edges, gardens, and... read more

    Food and feeding

    Mostly fruits, mainly capsular ones and figs (Ficus); also arthropods. Nestlings fed with arthropods for first five days,... read more

    Breeding

    Season at least Apr–Dec; nesting recorded Oct–Nov in Wau and late Jul and Aug at Varirata (near Port Moresby); males with... read more

    Movements

    Presumed resident.

    Status and conservation

    Not globally threatened. CITES II. Common, and widespread. In 2002, within Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area (E New Guinea), estimates at 432–650 m were 16... read more

    Recommended citation

    Frith, C. & Frith, D. (2020). Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana). 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/60664 on 27 January 2020).