Empress of Germany's Bird of Paradise
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| Paradisaea raggiana augustavictoriae Cabanis, 1888 |
The Empress of Germany's Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea raggiana augustavictoriae is a large, up to 34cm long, maroon brown bird of paradise. The male has a dark emerald green throat, yellow crown, pale brown below and narrow yellow throat collar. Its appearance closely resemblance the nominate form, crimson plumed Raggiana Bird of Paradise, differs from the latter in its beautiful apricot orange flank plumes. The female is an overall brown bird with yellow head and dark brown face.
The Empress of Germany's Bird of Paradise is distributed and endemic to upper Ramu River and Huon Peninsula of northeastern Papua New Guinea. The male is polygamous and displays in communal lek. The diet consists mainly of fruits, insects and arthropods.
One of the most heavily hunted birds of paradise in plume-hunting era, the Empress of Germany's Bird of Paradise was the first bird of paradise to breed in captivity. It was bred and observed by Prince K.S. Dharmakumarsinhji of India in 1940.
The name commemorates the German Empress and Queen consort of Prussia, Augusta Viktoria.
In the wild, the Empress of Germany's Bird of Paradise is hybridized with the Emperor Bird of Paradise, with at least six specimens known. Thought to be a new species, the hybrid was named Maria's Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea maria or Frau Reichenow's Bird of Paradise.
