Victoria's riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae), also known as the lesser riflebird, Queen Victoria riflebird, Queen Victoria's riflebird, or Victoria riflebird,[2] is a bird-of-paradiseendemic to the Atherton Tableland region of northeastern Queensland, Australia where it resides year-round.
The smallest riflebird, it measures between 23–25 cm. Males have an iridescent purple sheen plumage, which becomes more blue-green on the head and more bronze on the lower breast. The throat is velvety black with a metallic green and blue triangular patch in the center. Females have a pale eyebrow, and the buff underparts are faintly barred with brown.
Behavior
Breeding
When the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat and sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage in the shafts of sunlight that pierce the dimness of the rainforest. He curves his rounded wings above his body and tilts his head back to expose his chin and throat to the light, and then moves from side to side in a fashion that looks almost mechanical.
The female is attracted to the male's display post by his raspy 'yaars' call, which becomes softer and more tuneful during the display.
The pair then face each other closely, and each bird raises and extends its wings forward alternately in an increasingly rapid rhythm. Finally the male embraces the female with both wings, and copulation ensues.
Male display
Feeding
As well as insects, they eat fruits from the trees, some which they peel by holding the fruit with one foot and removing the skin with their bill.
Status
The Victoria's riflebird is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
_male_Atherton.jpg)
_female_Atherton_2.jpg)
_male_Atherton_2.jpg)
_male_Atherton_3.jpg)
_male_Atherton_4.jpg)
