Astrapia mayeri
The Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (*Astrapia mayeri*), a true spectacle of Papua New Guinea's montane forests, is renowned as one of the most exquisitely adorned members of the Birds-of-Paradise family (Paradisaeidae). Males are instantly recognizable by their extraordinary two white, streamer-like tail feathers, which can extend up to an astonishing 1 meter (39 inches) in length - more than three times their body length of approximately 32 cm (12.6 inches). Their plumage is a breathtaking tableau o...
This species exclusively inhabits humid, mid-to-upper montane cloud forests and subalpine forests, often found along forest edges and clearings, at elevations typically ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 meters (6,560-11,500 feet).
Their diet is primarily frugivorous, consisting of a wide variety of drupes and berries (especially from *Schefflera* species), supplemented by invertebrates such as insects (beetles, ants, larvae), spiders, and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards.
The Ribbon-tailed Astrapia is primarily diurnal and arboreal, spending most of its time foraging high in the forest canopy. Males are polygynous, engaging in elaborate courtship displays on traditional, favored perches rather than organized leks. During these captivating performances, males vigor...
The Ribbon-tailed Astrapia is strictly endemic to the central highlands of Papua New Guinea, where it is a resident species, exhibiting no migratory movements. Its distribution spans the rugged mountain ranges from the Star Mountains in the west, eastward through the Sepik-Wahgi Divide, Kubor Ran...
Near Threatened
- The male's white tail streamers can grow up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) long, making them the longest tail feathers relative to body size of any bird in the world. - These incredible tail feathers were once thought to be a separate species of bird when first discovered by Western scientists due to th...