Greater lophorina

Species of bird

The greater lophorina (Lophorina superba), also known as superb bird of paradise or greater superb bird of paradise, is a species of the Paradisaeidae (bird of paradise) family. It was considered the sole species in the genus until in 2017 it was recognised that there were three species (L. superba, Lophorina minor, and Lophorina niedda).

It is a small, approximately 26 cm (about 10 inches) long, (passerine) bird. The male is black with an iridescent green crown, blue green breast cover, and a long velvety black erectile cape covering his back. The female is a reddish brown bird with brownish barred buff below. The young is similar to the female. The greater lophorina is a dimorphic species. After carefully and meticulously preparing a "dance floor" (even scrubbing the dirt or branch smooth with leaves), the male first attracts a female with a loud call. After the curious female approaches, his folded black feather cape and blue green chest feathers shield spring upward and spread widely and symmetrically around his head, instantly transforming the frontal view of the male bird into a spectacular ellipse shaped creature that rhythmically snaps his tail feathers against each other, similar to how snapping fingers work, while hopping in frantic circles around the female. The average female rejects 15 20 potential suitors before consenting to mate. The show that males put on to attract females can be a long process that takes up many hours in a day. These species are polygynous and usually will mate with more than one female. They can also be found inhabiting mountainous habitats of the forests in New Guinea. The greater lophorina is also usually found on top of the trees that reside in the rain forests.

The greater lophorina travels across the trees in the forest to catch its prey, which can vary depending on seasonal availability of food.