King Bird of Paradise Facts

The king bird of paradise is part of the Paradisaeidae family and has the scientific name of Cicinnurus regius. It is the smallest bird in this family, growing to only 5.9 inches, according to the San Diego Zoo website.

  1. Population

    • The BBC states that as of 2009 the king bird of paradise was given a "Least Concern" conservation status. This rating from the IUCN Red List, which categorizes animal species based on threat level and conservation need, signifies that there is an abundance of this species and no threat of extinction.

    Habitat

    • The BBC's Wildlife Finder website states that a king bird of paradise can be found in rain forests and tropical, coastal forests called mangroves. These birds can also be found in Indonesia.

    Identification

    • Like many other bird species, the male and female king bird of paradise look drastically different. According to the BBC, female are dull brown, while males are red with blue and white feet and green-tipped fan-like plumes on their shoulders.

    Mating

    • Males hang upside down from branches during courtship. Some males go through their lives without mating, because they fail to attract a female. If a male successfully courts a female, he mates with her and immediately leaves to mate with another female.

    Communication

    • King birds of paradise communicate visually with signals such as body language and color to deliver messages to fellow birds and to warn of potential danger.