Victoria's Riflebird
Victoria's Riflebird (male)
Ptiloris victoriae
November 8th, 2018
Lake Eacham, Queensland, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon 600EX II-RT flash
The spectacular male Victoria's Riflebird putting on a show for the ladies! This photo doesn't really do this bird's plumage justice - their colours are just astonishing. Their plumage is jet black, with an amazing splash of blue/green iridescence colouring on the head & throat & a beautiful bronze colouring across their abdomen. When the dappled rainforest light hits their feathers, the black has a wonderful purple tinge to it & the iridescence feathers light up in an incredible array of colours.
The male selects an appropriate vertical platform to perform his ritual, usually a dead tree trunk or stump. In order to attract a female, he lets out a series of raspy 'yaars' calls to alert her of his presence. When the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat & sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage. He curves his rounded wings above his body, tilts his head back & opens his beak wide to reveal the brilliant deep yellow of his throat.
Once he has the attention of a female, then the real show begins - the dance! He starts quickly moving from side to side, in an almost mechanical like fashion. He will slowly 'bounce' on the spot, without ever leaving his feet, & he will manoeuvre his body in the direction of the female as she moves about the rainforest.
Once a receptive female lands on the display in front of him, the pair begin an elaborate courtship routine that sees them dance from side to side, with their heads on opposing angles to each other. The male will continually hide his head from the female behind his wings during this routine. He will perform his 'wing clap' display that all but embraces the female with rapidly alternating wing extensions at a progressively rapid tempo, until he wins her over & copulation commences.
An amazing encounter to witness!
Victoria's Riflebird
Victoria's Riflebird (male)
Ptiloris victoriae
November 8th, 2018
Lake Eacham, Queensland, Australia
Canon EOS 1D X Mark II
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon 600EX II-RT flash
The spectacular male Victoria's Riflebird putting on a show for the ladies! This photo doesn't really do this bird's plumage justice - their colours are just astonishing. Their plumage is jet black, with an amazing splash of blue/green iridescence colouring on the head & throat & a beautiful bronze colouring across their abdomen. When the dappled rainforest light hits their feathers, the black has a wonderful purple tinge to it & the iridescence feathers light up in an incredible array of colours.
The male selects an appropriate vertical platform to perform his ritual, usually a dead tree trunk or stump. In order to attract a female, he lets out a series of raspy 'yaars' calls to alert her of his presence. When the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat & sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage. He curves his rounded wings above his body, tilts his head back & opens his beak wide to reveal the brilliant deep yellow of his throat.
Once he has the attention of a female, then the real show begins - the dance! He starts quickly moving from side to side, in an almost mechanical like fashion. He will slowly 'bounce' on the spot, without ever leaving his feet, & he will manoeuvre his body in the direction of the female as she moves about the rainforest.
Once a receptive female lands on the display in front of him, the pair begin an elaborate courtship routine that sees them dance from side to side, with their heads on opposing angles to each other. The male will continually hide his head from the female behind his wings during this routine. He will perform his 'wing clap' display that all but embraces the female with rapidly alternating wing extensions at a progressively rapid tempo, until he wins her over & copulation commences.
An amazing encounter to witness!