The King-of-Saxony
bird-of-paradise is found in the rain forested mountains of New Guinea. This species was first described and
named in 1894. It received its
common name and scientific species name (alberti), to honor the then king of Saxony, Albert of
Saxony.
There are 41 species of
birds-of-paradise, mostly found in New Guinea and its surrounding islands. Males of the species exhibit some of
the most unusual and beautiful feathers in the world. The King-of-Saxony bird-of-paradise has feathers unlike any
other.
Illustration from the wikipedia files
The bird’s body is about
8.5 inches long. Males have a
black head, back, wings, and tail, and a white and yellow front. The most unusual part of the male is
the two very long head plumes, or ornamental feathers sprouting from behind
each eye. These feather structures
are more than twice the length of the bird’s body, almost 20 inches long! In the right light, they look light
blue on top and reddish-brown underneath.
The plumes have lost their normal feather structure. There are 40 to 50 small flag-shaped
structures positioned on one side of the shaft. Males have evolved these through sexual selection; yep, girl
attractants. The bland looking
brown females choose the male with the most impressive head
plumes.
Male King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise (photo: The wikipedia files)
King-of-Saxony birds are
polygamous. During courtship males
perform their displays in one large area called a lek. They are all attempting to impress the
on-looking females. The male’s
display has two main parts. First,
he will try to attract females to his spot by “singing” a hissing rattle sound
while perched up in the canopy. He
also moves and waves his head plumes and raises the feathers on his neck. When a female approaches, he flies down
to a vine in the under-story where he perches below the female. He repeats his display and also bounces
up and down on the vine. Click here for a short video of a male King-of-Saxony bird courtship display. When approaching the female for mating,
the male wags his head back and forth while hopping up the vine towards her. Afterwards, the female leaves and the
male continues to attract other females.
Males take no part in the
rearing of their offspring.
Females lay only one egg and care for the chick themselves. This species mainly eats fruit,
therefore helping with seed dispersal in their rainforest habitat. They are not considered endangered or
threatened. They are only found in
a small range, but are very common throughout that range.
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