Magnificent Riflebird

About the Magnificent Riflebird

The magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) is a species of passerine bird in the birds-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. Magnificent riflebirds are widely distributed throughout lowland rainforests of western New Guinea and the northern Cape York Peninsula of Australia. A relatively common species throughout its range, it is evaluated as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

The magnificent riflebird was formally described in 1819 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot under the binomial name Falcinellus magnificus. It is now placed in the genus Ptiloris that was introduced in 1825 by the English naturalist William Swainson. The common name "riflebird" comes from the likeness of their black velvety plumage to the uniform of the British Army Rifle Brigade.

Two subspecies are recognised: P. m. alberti Elliot, DG, 1871 – north Cape York Peninsula, Australia P. m. magnificus (Vieillot, 1819) – west and central New Guinea This riflebird is a medium-sized bird, being up to 34 cm (13 in) long. The male is velvet-black bird-of-paradise with elongated black filamental flank plumes... Wikipedia →