Giant birds of paradise are some of the largest and most striking members of the bird-of-paradise family native to New Guinea. There are several species within the genus Cicinnurus that are considered “giant” birds of paradise, including the King bird-of-paradise and Queen Victoria’s bird-of-paradise. These birds are known for their extremely long and elaborate plumage, which the males use in courtship displays to attract females. But just how big do these giant birds get? Let’s take a closer look at the sizes of the different giant bird of paradise species.
King Bird-of-Paradise
The King bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus regius) is the largest species of bird-of-paradise, with males reaching up to 43 cm (17 in) in total length from bill to tail. This includes around 26 cm (10 in) of tail feathers alone. Females are smaller, reaching around 20 cm (8 in) in total length.
In terms of weight, male King birds-of-paradise typically weigh around 210 g (7.4 oz), while females weigh around 167 g (5.9 oz) on average. The male’s long tail feathers make up a significant portion of its body mass.
Some key facts about the King bird-of-paradise’s size:
- Males reach up to 43 cm (17 in) long from bill to tail tip
- Females reach up to 20 cm (8 in) long
- Male weight averages around 210 g (7.4 oz)
- Female weight averages around 167 g (5.9 oz)
So in summary, the King bird-of-paradise is the largest species of bird-of-paradise, with males being exceptionally large due to their incredibly long tail feathers. But even the females are larger than most other bird-of-paradise species.
Queen Victoria’s Bird-of-Paradise
The second largest bird-of-paradise species is Queen Victoria’s bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus victoriae). Males reach up to around 35 cm (14 in) in total length, including around 20 cm (8 in) of tail feathers. Females are more petite, reaching around 15 cm (6 in) long.
For weight, male Queen Victoria’s birds-of-paradise weigh approximately 167 g (5.9 oz) on average. Females generally weigh around 61 g (2.2 oz).
Key size facts:
- Males reach up to 35 cm (14 in) long
- Females reach up to 15 cm (6 in) long
- Males weigh around 167 g (5.9 oz)
- Females weigh around 61 g (2.2 oz)
So while not as large as the King bird-of-paradise, Queen Victoria’s bird-of-paradise is still quite big, with males being exceptionally elongated due to long tail plumes. The females are more average-sized compared to other birds-of-paradise.
Lesser Bird-of-Paradise
The Lesser bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) is another large species, though not quite as giant as the previous two. Males reach around 33 cm (13 in) long including a roughly 13 cm (5 in) tail. Females are more compact at around 13 cm (5 in) long.
For weight, males tip the scales at around 130 g (4.6 oz) while females weigh about 85 g (3 oz).
Key measurements:
- Males reach 33 cm (13 in) long
- Females reach 13 cm (5 in) long
- Male weight about 130 g (4.6 oz)
- Female weight about 85 g (3 oz)
The Lesser bird-of-paradise is still a good-sized bird compared to many other passerines, but is considered more moderately sized compared to the King and Queen Victoria’s species.
Red Bird-of-Paradise
The Red bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus resplendens) is one of the smaller members of the genus, but males still grow surprisingly large tail plumes. Males reach around 26 cm (10 in) in total length, including tail feathers of about 10 cm (4 in). Females are tiny in comparison, averaging just 10 cm (4 in) from bill to tail tip.
Male Red birds-of-paradise are light, weighing around 85 g (3 oz). Females weigh a mere 23 g (0.8 oz) on average.
- Males reach 26 cm (10 in) long
- Females reach 10 cm (4 in) long
- Males weigh around 85 g (3 oz)
- Females weigh around 23 g (0.8 oz)
So while petite compared to other Cicinnurus species, the male Red bird-of-paradise still develops remarkably long plumes for his body size. The female is very small by bird standards.
Comparison of Giant Bird-of-Paradise Sizes
Species | Male Length (cm) | Female Length (cm) | Male Weight (g) | Female Weight (g) |
---|---|---|---|---|
King | 43 | 20 | 210 | 167 |
Queen Victoria’s | 35 | 15 | 167 | 61 |
Lesser | 33 | 13 | 130 | 85 |
Red | 26 | 10 | 85 | 23 |
This table summarizes the average sizes of males and females for the four giant bird-of-paradise species. It illustrates just how exceptionally large and elongated the King bird-of-paradise grows in comparison to other species. But even the smaller Red bird-of-paradise male develops tail plumes substantially longer than their body size. Females, however, tend to be moderately sized in most species.
Why do giant birds-of-paradise get so big?
So what accounts for the giant sizes achieved by male birds-of-paradise, particularly their extremely long tail plumes? There are a couple key reasons:
- Sexual selection – Females prefer to mate with males that have the longest, most elaborate feathers. Therefore, males evolved longer plumes to improve mating success.
- Display adaptation – Long feathers allow males to better display to distant females in the dense rainforest. The feathers also make the displays more visually striking.
- Flight adaptation – Despite their size, giants birds-of-paradise can still fly fairly well in the rainforest. The elongated plumes help provide aerodynamic lift.
In essence, the evolution of giant body sizes and feather lengths in these birds stems from both sexual selection by females and natural selection for better visual displays and flight ability. The long feathers enhance mating success while allowing the birds to function in their native habitat.
Do females also grow large plumes?
In almost all bird-of-paradise species, including the giant birds, females lack the long, ornamental plumes of the males. Instead, females have relatively plain and non-iridescent plumage.
There are a couple reasons female birds-of-paradise do not grow elaborate feathers:
- They do not need long plumes for courtship displays to the same degree as males.
- Long bright feathers could actually make females and their nests more obvious to predators.
- The time and energy spent growing ornate plumes could take away from nesting duties.
Natural selection has instead favored drab camouflaged female plumage to help hide the nest and allow the mothers to devote energy to brooding eggs and raising chicks.
How do bird-of-paradise sizes compare to other birds?
While birds-of-paradise are renowned for their giant sizes and outrageous plumage, how do they compare to some other large bird species?
- Ostriches – Males can reach 2.7 m (9 ft) tall and weigh over 150 kg (330 lbs). The largest birds in the world.
- Emus – Males grow up to 1.9 m (6.2 ft) and weigh around 40 kg (88 lbs). Smaller than ostriches but still very large.
- Albatrosses – The largest is the Wandering albatross, with a 3.7 m (12 ft) wingspan. But weighs only 8-10 kg (18-22 lbs).
- Birds-of-paradise – The King bird-of-paradise reaches just 43 cm (17 in) long and 210 g (7.4 oz) in weight. Much smaller than the largest birds.
While birds-of-paradise are giants relative to most passerine songbirds, they are quite petite compared to ratites and pelagic seabirds. Even their most outlandish plumes are dwarfed by the sheer physical size of an ostrich or albatross. Their giant plumage just makes them appear bigger than they are!
Conclusion
The flamboyant birds-of-paradise include several giant species in the genus Cicinnurus, outclassed in size only by the gargantuan King bird-of-paradise. Male King birds-of-paradise achieve a total length of 43 cm (17 in) including a 26 cm (10 in) tail, and weigh around 210 g (7.4 oz). Even smaller species like the Red bird-of-paradise develop feathers far exceeding their body proportions. These elongated plumes and giant sizes evolved via sexual selection and natural selection to facilitate mating displays. While giants compared to related songbirds, birds-of-paradise are quite modest next to the world’s largest bird species like ostriches, emus, and albatrosses. But their outrageous feathers give them an oversized appearance that makes them one-of-a-kind in the avian world.