Greater Bird of Paradise Paradisaea apoda

The Greater Bird of Paradise is native to forests of southwest New Guinea and Indonesia's Aru Islands. The largest of the Paradisaea genus, males of its smaller relatives the Raggiana and Lesser Birds of Paradise can look similar.

The male Greater Bird of Paradise (above) has an iridescent green face with pale cream hood, rufous brown body and wings, bright yellow plumes and tawny tail plumes. He is some 43cm long excluding the thin tail wires. The female is larger (48cm long) but plain dark brown.

Males raise the plumes in fancy display dances when courting.