Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus)

The Magnificent Bird of Paradise is only about 7 inches long. They have a dark underside and golden back with iridescent colors and blue beak and legs. The male is so heavy looking that he appears almost tailless. The female is a dull brown color with stripes on her lower half, distinguished with difficulty from other female Birds of Paradise by its bluish bill and patch behind the eye. Rather than displaying high on the treetops, the male Magnificent Bird of Paradise displays on the ground. The male is best seen in early morning, performing at its display ground (lek) deep inside primary forest. Magnificent Birds of Paradise prefer lower hills, from the coast to 1,500 m, although they avoid flat, alluvial swamp forest right at sea level.