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Common Name: King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise

Scientific Name: Pteridophora alberti

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Pteridophora

Genus: Pteridophora

Species: P. alberti

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This bird, known as the King of Saxony Bird-Of-Paradise or by its scientific name Pteridophora alberti, is a very interesting bird. Although, not much is known about it compared to other animals. We will be able to enjoy the Bird-of-Paradise for a while as it is at least concerned for its population. If you would like to learn more about this fascinating bird read on below.

 

P. alberti can reach up to approximately 22 cm long. The male is yellow and black with a dark brown iris, brown and grey legs, and aqua-green bill. The P. albertii also had two very interesting looking scalloped enamel blue brown plumes that the birds can independently erect at any time; they can reach up to about 50 centimeters, which is over twice the size of the bird’s length! The bird is so fake looking that when the first specimen was brought in that it was thought to be fake! The female is gray and brown in its upper body and a pale beneath with grey scalloping.

 

The Pteridophora Alberti is found in the mid montane forests, upper montane forests, and the forest edgings of New Guinea. They are about 1400 to 2500 meters above sea level. They are in the Western and Central mountain ranges from Weyland Range to Kratke Range. New Guinea is the world’s second largest island located in the South West Pacific Ocean.

 

Fortunately, The Pteridophora alberti is at least concern on the conservation status scale, but sadly the population of these birds had been going down due to hunting. The population of the bird is still unknown. The diet of the bird of paradise consists of mostly fruits and arthropods, but the P. alberti does eat small amounts of nectar and also small lvertebrates.

 

Now you know more about the Pteridophora alberti that is one of the most fascinating birds in the world and hopefully the population begins to increase.

 

Author: Hayden D.

Published: 02/2014

 

Sources:

Author(s) unknown "King of Saxony Bird-of-paradise." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Feb. 2014.

Web. 19 Feb. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Saxony_Bird-of-paradise>.

Author(s) "Species." King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti). N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

<http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=5838>.

 

Photo Credit:

Markaharper1 King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise

 

 

 

 

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