About the King Bird-of-paradise
The king bird-of-paradise is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus Cicinnurus, although the genus Diphyllodes is closely related and is subsumed under Cicinnurus by many other authorities.
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ID tip
This so-called "living gem" is the smallest and most vividly colored among birds-of-paradise. The king bird-of-paradise is small, measuring approximately 6.3–7.5 inches (16–19 cm) long, but 12.2 inches (31 cm) if central rectrices of adult males included. Females weigh about 0.08–0.13 pounds (36–59 g), males 0.10–0.14 pounds (45–64 g). The adult male has an overall metallic crimson color, slightly orange under certain lights, and more particularly so in the crown. They have a narrow, dark green iridescent breast band with whitish lower breast, and green-tipped fan-like plumes on the shoulder.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Brown SicklebillEpimachus meyeriThe brown sicklebill is large, up to 96 cm long, dark blue and green with highly iridescent plumages, a sickle-shaped bill, pale blue iris and brown underparts.
Raggiana Bird-of-paradiseParadisaea raggianaThe Raggiana bird-of-paradise is 34 centimetres (13 in) long.
Magnificent Bird-of-paradiseDiphyllodes magnificusThe magnificent bird-of-paradise has one of the most complex plumage arrangements in the family Paradisaeidae.
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