What the sources say
King of Saxony Bird-of-ParadisePteridophora alberti
Every figure, record and mechanism on the King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 39 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Pteridophora alberti (King of Saxony bird-of-paradise). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysA male's twin head plumes run twice his body length
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye.
Note: male: the account describes the plumes under 'Mature male', and females lack them; 'twice as long' is the source's own; its 'approximately' qualifies the 50 cm, not the ratio - The page saysworked by muscles housed in hollows of his skull
- The source says
Pteridophora alberti skulls have small depressions behind the occipital cavity to allow for the musculature necessary to control the occipital plumes.
- The page sayshis courtship song has been likened to radio static
- The source says
The male's song has been described as a radio-static hiss
- The page saysMontane rainforests of the New Guinea highlands, roughly 1,500 to 2,750 meters up
- The source says
King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise are found exclusively in rain forests in the mountains of New Guinea from 1,500 to 2,750 m above sea level.
Note: the account's data box gives 1500 to 2850 m; 'roughly' covers the prose figure used here - The page saysMostly fruit, favoring green fruits and especially false figs, plus insects
- The source says
Approximately 80% of their diet consists of fruit; they tend to favor green fruits, especially false figs above most other fruits. They are also known to eat insects.
- The page saysA male's two head plumes, each about 50 centimeters long
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye.
- The page sayscontrolled by muscles housed in small skull depressions
- The source says
Pteridophora alberti skulls have small depressions behind the occipital cavity to allow for the musculature necessary to control the occipital plumes.
- The page saysHe measures about 22 centimeters long and weighs 80 to 95 grams
- The source says
Mature male King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise are approximately 22 cm long and weigh 80 to 95 g.
- The page saysfemales run smaller, 68 to 88 grams, with grey-brown backs and pale, chevron-marked underparts instead of his black-and-buff body
- The source says
The head, chest and top of the body are black, with scale-like iridescent feathers on the chest, the underbody is buff-yellow. ... Female P. alberti have off-white underbodies patterned with darker chevrons, while the tops of their bodies are grey-brown in color. ... Females weigh 68 to 88 g.
- The page saysBehind each of his eyes grows a feather shaft that reaches roughly 50 centimeters, twice his own length, strung with 40 to 50 flags that are bright blue on top and red-brown underneath
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye. These flags are bright blue on top, and red-brown underneath.
- The page saysNear dawn or in late afternoon, a displaying male sits on a bare branch in the canopy and sings a hissing rattle, moving his two plumes in step or independently to attract a female
- The source says
near dawn or in late afternoon, the male attracts a female by singing a hissing rattle while sitting on a bare branch in the canopy. He accompanies his song with synchronous or independent movements of his occipital plumes
- The page saysWhen she arrives, he flies down to a vine in the understory, usually two meters or more from the forest floor, perches below her, bounces, and hisses again, shivering his wings if she seems uninterested
- The source says
When a female arrives, he flies down to vines in the understory, usually 2 or more meters from the forest floor. There, he perches below the female on a vine, bounces, and gives a hissing call, which is often accompanied by ... if the female appears disinterested, wing shivers
- The page saysHe wags his head from side to side as he hops up the vine toward her to mate. Afterwards she leaves, and he returns to his perch to court another female.
- The source says
When approaching the female for copulation, the male wags his head from side to side while hopping up the vine. After copulation, the female leaves, and the male returns to his perch to attract another female.
- The page saysSmall hollows in the skull make room for the muscles that control a male's two head plumes
- The source says
Pteridophora alberti skulls have small depressions behind the occipital cavity to allow for the musculature necessary to control the occipital plumes.
- The page sayseach one twice as long as his body
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye.
Note: 'twice as long' is the source's own; its 'approximately' qualifies the 50 cm, not the ratio - The page saysThe male's song has been described as a radio-static hiss that speeds up while dropping in volume, in bursts of four to five seconds repeated at one-minute intervals
- The source says
The male's song has been described as a radio-static hiss, which increases in tempo and lessens in volume simultaneously. Songs last 4 to 5 seconds, and are repeated at one-minute intervals.
- The page saysImmature males, who wear the same plumage as females
- The source says
There are also immature males that sport female-style plumage.
- The page saysgive a different call, a noisy descending churr
- The source says
Immature males give calls described as noisy descending churrs.
- The page saysThe mating system is called an "exploded lek": each male displays from his own spot, but many males are generally spread across a large area, all trying to court females
- The source says
The mating system is considered an "exploded lek" because males perform mating displays in their own spot, but there are generally many males in a large area where all are attempting to court females.
- The page saysThe species lives only in the mountain rainforests of New Guinea, across two main ranges running from the Weyland and Snow Mountains east to the Bismarck and Kratke Ranges, at roughly 1,500 to 2,750 meters
- The source says
is native to the rain forest regions of New Guinea. There are two main ranges, which run in a generally south-east line from the Weyland and Snow Mountains eastward to the Bismarck and Kratke Ranges ... found exclusively in rain forests in the mountains of New Guinea from 1,500 to 2,750 m above sea level
Note: 'only'/'lives only in' paraphrases the source's own 'found exclusively in' - The page saysIt does not need pristine forest, and can survive in lightly disturbed rainforest and at forest edges
- The source says
These birds don't require pristine forest; P. alberti can survive in lightly disturbed sections of rain forest and forest edges as well.
- The page saysAbout 80 percent of its diet is fruit; it tends to favor green fruits, especially false figs, and also eats insects
- The source says
Approximately 80% of their diet consists of fruit; they tend to favor green fruits, especially false figs above most other fruits. They are also known to eat insects.
- The page saysAdult males forage mainly in the upper canopy, while females and female-plumaged males have been seen at every level of the forest
- The source says
Adult males forage mainly in the upper canopy, but females and males with female-plumage have been spotted in all levels of forest growth.
- The page saysMales were hunted for their plumes, which were used in women's hats from the late 1800s into the 1930s
- The source says
King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise have been hunted in the past for the striking occipital plumes sported by males, which were used in ladies' hats in the late 1800's into the 1930's
- The page saysThe Wola people of New Guinea used the plumes in traditional headdresses and imitated the male's courtship display in their ritual dances
- The source says
The Wola people of New Guinea imitate the courtship displays of P. alberti in their ritualistic dances; the Wola also use the occipital plumes in traditional headresses.
Note: past tense on purpose: the account (references accessed 2008) rests on Sillitoe 1988, too old to state as a current practice - The page saysThe species has no known predator as an adult, though eggs and nestlings may fall to arboreal snakes or other birds
- The source says
King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise have no known predators. ... Eggs and nestlings may be preyed on by arboreal snakes or other birds.
- The page saysOnly the female. She builds her own nest and cares for the chick by herself, including feeding it. Beyond mating, the male has no part in raising the young.
- The source says
Only female P. alberti care for chicks. Other than the actual copulation event, males have no parental investment in the raising of young. Females build their own nests, and care for chicks by themselves, including providing food.
Note: 'Beyond mating' paraphrases the source's 'Other than the actual copulation event' - The page saysWith muscle, and a skull shaped to hold it. The species' skull has small depressions that make room for the musculature controlling the plumes.
- The source says
Pteridophora alberti skulls have small depressions behind the occipital cavity to allow for the musculature necessary to control the occipital plumes.
- The page saysWhile he sings from his perch, a male swings the pair in step or independently, often holds his mantle cape and breast shield erect, and usually turns repeatedly on the branch.
- The source says
He accompanies his song with synchronous or independent movements of his occipital plumes; the mantle cape and breast shield are also often held erect. The male usually turns repeatedly on his perch.
- The page saysNo natural predator of adults is known, although people have hunted the birds for their plumes. Eggs and nestlings may be taken by tree-climbing snakes or other birds.
- The source says
King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise have no known predators. However, humans have been known to hunt them for their exquisite plumage. Eggs and nestlings may be preyed on by arboreal snakes or other birds.
- The page saysTwo Plumes, Twice His Body Length
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye.
Note: heading; 'twice as long' is the source's own; its 'approximately' qualifies the 50 cm, not the ratio - The page saysA Courtship in Two Parts
- The source says
The courtship display of male King-of-Saxony birds-of-paradise has two general parts.
Note: heading - The page saysA Song Like Radio Static
- The source says
The male's song has been described as a radio-static hiss
Note: heading - The page saysMountain Forests
- The source says
found exclusively in rain forests in the mountains of New Guinea
Note: heading - The page saysthe Hat Trade
- The source says
which were used in ladies' hats in the late 1800's into the 1930's
Note: heading - The page sayshe swings
- The source says
He accompanies his song with synchronous or independent movements of his occipital plumes
Note: vibe.reason; settled in #826 - The page sayswhose two head plumes, each about 50 cm and twice his body length, carry bright blue flags
- The source says
A feather shaft twice as long as the bird's body (approximately 50 cm) sporting 40 to 50 flag-like structures are rooted behind each eye. These flags are bright blue on top, and red-brown underneath.
Note: vibe.reason; the flags' blue is claimed in the body - The page sayswhile singing a hiss likened to radio static
- The source says
The male's song has been described as a radio-static hiss
Note: vibe.reason
Source
02
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024
Pteridophora alberti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T22706229A264321788.
- The page saysthe IUCN rates it Least Concern
- The source says
Least Concern
Note: category read through GBIF's copy of the 2024 Red List assessment per docs/fact-check.md; iucnredlist.org refuses scripts
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.