Bird
Ribbon-tailed Astrapia
Astrapia mayeriAlso known as Shaw Mayer's Astrapia
Endemic to the central highlands of Papua New Guinea, adult male ribbon-tailed astralias trail double white tail feathers more than three times their body length through mossy canopy foliage. Males use these dramatic streamers in courtship displays, acrobatically hopping between branches to attract females. Habitat loss and targeted hunting for traditional ceremonial plumes present ongoing pressures across their narrow high-altitude range.
HighlandEndemicLong-tailed
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyWild figs, Schefflera fruit, Insects
Predators
- Papuan Eagle
- Arboreal snakes
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation and hunting for feathers
HabitatsSubalpine montane cloud forests
Life span10–15 years
Classification
- FamilyParadisaeidae
- SpeciesAstrapia mayeri
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for an iridescent green and velvet-black bird of paradise trailing two immensely long white ribbon tail feathers.
- Support conservation
- Observe quietly from established highland trails without using recorded call playback to avoid disrupting courtship rituals.
Responsible observation
- Birdwatching: Scan high cloud forest canopies early in the morning when males actively display.
- Plume Awareness: Refrain from purchasing souvenir crafts made with wild bird feathers.
Co-inhabitant markaharper1 / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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