Blue bird-of-paradise

Description

The species is approximately 30 cm long,black with a bluish-white bill,dark brown iris,grey legs,broken white eye-ring and bright blue wings.The male is adorned with violet blue and cinnamon flank plumes and two long ribbon-like tail feathers.The female has a chestnut brown below.The male is polygamous and performs a breathtaking courtship display.But unlike all other Paradisaea species,he performs solitary with attending female nearby.In display,the male hangs from a branch upside down.The black oval with red margin at the centre of his chest is rhythmically enlarged and contracted.His violet blue plumes spread out in a fan,swaying its body back and forth while the central tail feathers form two impressive arches down to either side.Throughout his performance he vocalizes softly in a low but harsh vibrating voice.