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The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise is a bird in the bird-of-paradise family (Paradisaeidae). It is the only member of the genus Pteridophora. It is endemic to montane forest in New Guinea.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The adult King of Saxony bird-of-paradise is approximately 22 cm long. The male is black and yellow with a dark brown iris, brownish-grey legs, a black bill with a bright aqua-green gape, and two remarkably long (up to 50 cm) scalloped, enamel-blue brow-plumes that can be independently erected at the bird's will. The unadorned female is greyish brown with barred underparts. The male's ornamental head plumes are so bizarre that, when the first specimen was brought to Europe, it was thought to be a fake.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in July · a winter visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Princess Stephanie's AstrapiaAstrapia stephaniaeStephanie's astrapia is a most distinctive bird-of-paradise, and extremely unmistakable to recognize.
Ribbon-tailed AstrapiaAstrapia mayeriThe ribbon-tailed astrapia is medium-sized, up to 32 cm long (without including the tail of the male, which can be over 1 metre).
Red Bird-of-paradiseParadisaea rubraLarge, up to 33 cm long, brown and yellow with a dark brown iris, grey legs, and yellow bill.
Learn the King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise for real
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