Raggiana Bird-of-paradise vs Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea raggiana compared with Seleucidis melanoleucus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Raggiana Bird-of-paradise Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise
Scientific Name Paradisaea raggiana Seleucidis melanoleucus
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Paradisaeidae Paradisaeidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length 34.0 cm (13.4 in)
Wingspan 45.0 cm (17.7 in) 34.0 cm (13.4 in)
Weight 260.0 g (9.17 oz) 183.75 g (6.48 oz)
Diet Fruit, seeds, arthropods, and small vertebrates. Males display at communal lek sites to attract females. --
Clutch Size 1-2 1
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Raggiana Bird-of-paradise 34.0 cm
Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise
Wingspan
Raggiana Bird-of-paradise 45.0 cm
Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise 34.0 cm
Weight
Raggiana Bird-of-paradise 260.0 g
Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise 183.75 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise only

None

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise only

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Tropical rainforest and forest edge from lowlands to mid-montane elevations in New Guinea.

Song & Call Comparison

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Song

Males emit harsh, buzzy 'kraaak' calls and explosive wailing during display. Females give softer 'waak' contact calls. Display calls are loud and chaotic at leks.

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

Geographic Range & Migration

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Southern and eastern New Guinea. Endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Least Concern

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

How to Tell Them Apart

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

Plumage

Males have a yellow crown, emerald-green throat, and spectacular cascading orange-red flank plumes. Females are brown with rufous underparts.

Bill

Stout, slightly curved, blue-grey bill

Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise

About These Birds

Raggiana Bird-of-paradise

The raggiana bird-of-paradise is the national bird of Papua New Guinea, featured on the national flag and coat of arms. Males gather at traditional display trees to perform elaborate courtship dances, hanging upside down and shaking their spectacular flank plumes. Alfred Russel Wallace first described the species in 1873.

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