Paradise Riflebird. Birds of Queensland Vol. 24-1

Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseus

The name derives from the similarity of the male bird’s plumage to the uniforms of British riflemen (in colonial times). This bird is found only in the east coast of Australia, specifically in the subtropical and temperate rainforests of the Great Dividing Range from the Calliope Range south of Rockhampton in Queensland, to Barrington Tops National Park/ Myall Lakes National Park in New South Wales. It resides in the rainforest canopy, above 500m elevation, though known to move to lower elevations, sometimes below 200m in winter.

My first ever photo of the species (adult female I think) October 2020, Mount Glorious. 

Adult females are rufous-brown above, with a pale white stripe across top to rear of head and throat, and with lighter brown underparts and dark brown chevrons.

Foraging young or female, January 2022, Spicer's Gap, Main Range NP.

Immature and juvenile birds are similar to the adult females with greyish-brown upperparts, rufous wings, and whitish eyebrow and throat. The underparts are buff with black ‘horseshoe’ markings. There is inadequate data of juvenile appearance and more information is required to distinguish young males from adult females.

July 2022 Lawton Road trail, Mount Glorious.

The plumage of the adult male Paradise Riflebird appears a velvety jet black, but when seen in full sunlight, the spectacular iridescent metallic green, blue and purple shimmer through. 

First photo of an adult male August 2022, Lawton Road trail, Mount Glorious.

Female or young October 2022, Mount Mee.

Both genders have a long, black, decurved bill, black legs, and dark brown iris.

October 2022, Mount Glorious.

Back in November 2022, up in Mount Glorious, I was able to take just the one distant shot of an adult male displaying briefly.

This year I managed to get  a short video of its choreography.

Adult male display sequence. October 2023, Mount Glorious.

Adult male in the breeding season, September 2023, Mount Glorious.

Female or young September 2023, Mount Glorious.

The following photos and video are all from Mount Glorious, taken October 2023.

Plumage is not the only spectacular aspect of the Paradise Riflebird. During breeding season, the promiscuous males perform solitary displays for females.

This male from Mount Glorious is very well-known to birdwatchers this year 2023.

 Here, it performs a  sequence of dance moves in a solitary display to attract females. It usually performs from a favourite perch on an exposed horizontal branch high above the ground.

His display is spectacular, with its colourful plumage sparkling in the sunlight.

Not just a pretty bird, this male alternately assumes static poses and rapid side-to-side dance movements, with his swaying legs putting Elvis to shame. 

In the dance, its wings are fully spread and fanned upwards in front of him, and his head thrown back to show the metallic blue-green plumage on its throat and neck, with the gaping mouth showing bright yellow inner lining.

Adult male calling. October 2023 Mount Glorious.

The bird can be found by its distinctive calls in and around its display areas.

The call of the male is a loud harsh-sounding “yaassss” call, often repeated.

Click on this video below for an adult male calling and displaying.

Click on video above.

October 2023 Mount Glorious.

October 2023 Mount Mee.

The paradise riflebird mainly feeds on fruit, insects and spiders, high in the forest canopy. It forages up  and down tree trunks and along branches for food. Sometimes it hunts and feeds while hanging upside-down.

Mount Glorious November 2023.

Mount Mee November 2023.

The Paradise Riflebird uses its long curved bill to pry off pieces of bark, and to probe in the crevices of rotten logs and stumps on the forest floor. This species also feeds on fruit and often seen feeding together with other fruit-eating rainforest birds.

Paradise Riflebird has most recently been assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018. Although significant areas of its habitat has been lost to land clearing, it is listed as 'Least Concern.'