The King bird of Paradise is said to be the most vividly coloured of its species.
Looks
Male King birds of Paradise are small
birds, with scarlet bodies and white underparts. Males have blue feet and long, green-tipped curled
tail wires. The females, however, are not nearly as striking, with dull brown
feathers and barred underparts, though they have the same bright feet as the
males.
Breeding
The courtship of the male is an elaborate
display of feather fluffing and tail swinging. Some may compete at display
grounds called elks.
Once they have mated, the pair makes the
nest together and cares for the chicks. The incubation period of the eggs is 17
to 21 days. After 17 to 30 days the chicks are
ready to leave the nest.
Feeding
The King bird of Paradise eats mostly fruit
and insects.
Habitat
These birds live in lowland forests in New
Guinea, as well as on close by islands.
