Fun King Of Saxony Bird-of-paradise Facts For Kids

The only member of the Pteridophora genus, the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti), is primarily found in the rainforests of New Guinea. The species was first described by a German anthropologist and ornithologist, Adolf Bernard Meyer, in the last decade of the 19th century. The birds are also known as 'Leme' in the native language.

Unlike other birds of New Guinea, the species is quite large. The average weight of these birds is 0.15-0.20 lb (68-95 g) while they are 7.8-8.6 in (20-22 cm) long. The top of the body, including the head and chest, is black, while the lower body is buff-yellow. Unlike males, the lower body of the female King of Saxony bird is off-white.

These solitary birds are omnivores and primarily prey on green fruits and small insects. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species in the Least Concern category. Over the years, people have been hunting the species for their beautiful plumage or feathers.

Keep on reading to learn more interesting facts about the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise. If you want to know more exciting information about different animals, check out the prairie falcon facts and ring-necked duck facts.

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What type of animal is a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise?

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, Pteridophora alberti, is a colorful bird endemic to New Guinea. These birds are omnivores and primarily prey on fruits and insects.

What class of animal does a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise belong to?

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, Pteridophora alberti species, belongs to the class of Aves, the Paradisaeidae family, and the Pteridophora genus.

How many King of Saxony birds-of-paradise are there in the world?

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, Pteridophora alberti, is the only member of the Pteridophora genus. The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise's exact population is not known, but the species has been listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. A few centuries ago, birds were also found in the western world. It is also true that the cases of hunting have increased over the years.

Where does a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise live?

The birds are primarily found in New Guinea but can also be spotted in western regions of the island, known as Papua, Kratke range, and Mount Giluwe.

What is a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise's habitat?

These birds are found in the rainforests of mountains and prefer to live between 0.9-1.7 miles (1500-2850 m) above sea level. The species can also be found in the edges of the forests.

Who do King of Saxony birds-of-paradise live with?

The Pteridophora alberti species are solitary and prefer to live mostly alone. The birds generally come together during the breeding season. The species is diurnal and remains active day.

How long does a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise live?

The exact lifespan of the birds is not known, but several species of the Paradisaeidae family can easily live up to 30 years if kept in captivity.

How do they reproduce?

The birds-of-paradise are polygynous, which means the male mates with multiple female partners. The breeding season occurs from April to October or November. The male and female birds reach sexual maturity after the age of one or two, and before breeding, they are involved in nesting and courtship display which also take place during September and April.

The incubation period lasts for more than three weeks, and like other species, the female birds-of-paradise are involved in the construction of nests. Each season, the female bird lays only one egg.

What is their conservation status?

These birds are endemic to New Guinea, and several organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and CITES have listed the species as Least Concern. Still, over the years, adult birds are being hunted by people.

What do King of Saxony birds-of-paradise look like?

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise has a black head with long grey plumes. The female birds have an off-white lower body while males have a buff-yellow lower body. These birds are prominently found on the montane forest of New Guinea.

How cute are they?

The King of Saxony birds-of-paradise are known for their beautiful plumage but the presence of ornamental head plumes make them more adorable. The cutest and most fascinating thing about these birds is the movement of their head plumes while singing.

How do they communicate?

These birds follow the same methods of communication. They use call notes, and body language to communicate with each other. The singing of adult males lasts for 4-5 seconds while juveniles make noises. During the courtship display, they swing their body, and plumes to attract their partners.

How big is a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise?

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise is a medium-sized bird, and the average weight of the birds is 0.15-0.20 lb (68-95 g) while they are 7.8-8.6 in (20-22 cm) long. Some of the birds are two times lighter than the weight of the greater bird-of-paradise. The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise is also twice the length of Andean siskin birds.

How fast can a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise fly?

The exact speed of this bird is not known at the moment, but the species are considered quite active. Also, males are aggressive and territorial and believed to move very fast during danger.

How much does a King of Saxony bird-of-paradise weigh?

The male birds are a bit heavier compared to the female birds. The average weight of the species is 0.15-0.20 lb (68-95 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

No specific names are used to refer to the female and male birds. People generally differentiate by looking at the lower bodies of the birds. The females have off-white lower bodies, unlike the male birds.

What would you call a baby King of Saxony bird-of-paradise?

There is no particular name used to refer to the baby of the species. Terms such as chicks or juveniles are often used to refer to babies.

What do they eat?

The birds are omnivores and primarily prey on small insects and fruits. A huge portion of their diet includes green fruits found in the montane forests.

Are they dangerous?

The species generally is not dangerous to humans, but the male's aggressiveness could be harmful if they feel threatened or someone tries to harm the birds. Usually, these birds prefer to be alone and avoid human interaction.

Would they make a good pet?

It is not clear whether people keep these birds as pets as they are endemic to New Guinea. The male birds are quite aggressive, and keeping the birds in a human-made habitat would make them more aggressive. People generally don't keep these rare birds as pets as the population has been declining rapidly due to the rise in hunting activities.

Did you know...

There is an interesting fact behind given the common name and the scientific term to the species. 'King of Saxony', and 'alberti', the common name and the scientific term of the species were given to honor Albert of Saxony, the then king of Saxony.

The plumes of the birds are enamel-blue in color. Research suggests that gray plumes could reach the length of 19.6 in (50 cm) quite easily. When the first specimen came into the western world, people believed it was fake. However, the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise as well as all other 45 species of the bird-of-paradise are very much real.

The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise could be the most beautiful bird in the world but the eagle is regarded as the king of all birds.

Snakes, owls, and hawks are the main predators of the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise.

David Attenborough, a world-famous natural historian, is regarded as the first person to film the mating ritual of the Pteridophyta alberti species.

Why are the birds-of-paradise so brightly colored and flamboyant?

Charles Darwin, a naturalist, believed that the presence of vividly colored plumage, long plumes, and attractive bodies resulted from sexual selection. Due to the absence of many predators, males could attract females with their beauty, and the system of polygamy is a result of the male's flamboyance.

Do birds-of-paradise mate for life?

Several species of the Paradisaeidae family are either monogamous or polygynous. These monogamous birds mate with only one partner while a few species pair for their entire lives.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our pheasant facts and secretary bird facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable King of Saxony bird of paradise coloring pages.