Paradisaea minor
The Lesser Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea minor) is a medium-sized passerine, measuring approximately 32 cm (12.6 inches) excluding the ornamental plumes, renowned for the male's spectacular display plumage. Males are instantly recognizable by their brilliant yellow crown and nape, shimmering emerald-green throat, and rich maroon-brown back and belly, crowned by dramatic yellow-tipped white flank plumes that extend far beyond the tail. Distinctive field marks include these long, flowing flank p...
This species primarily inhabits lowland rainforests, forest edges, and secondary growth, preferring areas with a dense canopy. It is typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,500 meters, occasionally reaching higher altitudes.
Their diet consists mainly of various fruits, particularly figs, supplemented by insects like beetles and ants, and occasionally nectar. They forage predominantly in the upper canopy and subcanopy.
Lesser Birds-of-paradise are diurnal, most active during dawn and dusk, often roosting communally in dense canopy foliage. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning fruits from the forest canopy, occasionally supplemented by insects. Males are polygynous, engaging in elaborate lekking d...
The Lesser Bird-of-paradise is endemic to the lowland and hill forests of northern New Guinea and several offshore islands. Its primary range extends across the northern coastal regions of both West Papua (Indonesian New Guinea), including the Bird's Head Peninsula and Yapen Island, and Papua New...
Least Concern
- The name "Lesser" refers to its slightly smaller size compared to the Greater Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea apoda), not a lesser beauty or display. - Male Lesser Birds-of-paradise perform complex, synchronized aerial displays, often with several males performing together at a communal lek site. ...