Astrapia splendidissima
The Splendid Astrapia (Astrapia splendidissima) is an exquisite medium-sized bird-of-paradise endemic to the montane forests of New Guinea, renowned for the male's spectacularly elongated tail streamers and iridescent plumage. Males typically measure around 39 cm in body length, but their central tail streamers can add an astonishing 48-63 cm, resulting in a total length approaching 90 cm, with an average weight of 130-195 grams. Their velvety black bodies contrast sharply with a brilliant, i...
Found exclusively in mid-montane to upper montane forest, including forest edge and secondary growth, at elevations generally between 1,800 and 3,400 meters.
Primarily frugivorous, consuming various fruits including Pandanus drupes, with a supplementary diet of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
Splendid Astrapias are diurnal and typically observed singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly with other birds-of-paradise. They forage by gleaning insects and fruit from the canopy and mid-story, often climbing branches and occasionally hovering to reach...
The Splendid Astrapia is entirely endemic to the central mountain ranges of New Guinea. Its distribution spans from the Weyland Mountains in the west (Indonesian Papua) eastward through the Star Mountains to the Owen Stanley Range in eastern Papua New Guinea. This species is an altitudinal specia...
Least Concern
- Male Splendid Astrapias possess some of the longest tail streamers relative to body size among all birds, reaching up to 63 cm in some subspecies. - They are one of the highest-dwelling birds-of-paradise, frequently found in cloud forests and upper montane environments. - Despite their elaborat...