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Birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae)

Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) - HBW 14, p. 476

French: Paradisier superbe German: Kragenparadiesvogel Spanish: Ave-del-paraíso Soberbia
Other common names: Lesser Superb Bird-of-paradise

Taxonomy: Paradisea Superba J. R. Forster, 1781, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea.
Intergeneric hybridization with Paradigalla carunculata, Parotia sefilata, Parotia carolae, Ptiloris magnificus, Epimachus fastosus and Cicinnurus magnificus recorded. Proposed race connectens (Dawong, in Herzog Mts), treated as synonym of latipennis. Proposed race sphinx, described on basis of one immature male (like minor but considerably larger, with more reddish-brown on upperparts, eyestripe less extensive, forehead and neck lacking white flecks), is of unknown origin, but possibly from mountains of far SE New Guinea; .. View all taxonomy...

Taxonomy: Paradisea Superba J. R. Forster, 1781, Arfak Mountains, New Guinea.
Intergeneric hybridization with Paradigalla carunculata, Parotia sefilata, Parotia carolae, Ptiloris magnificus, Epimachus fastosus and Cicinnurus magnificus recorded. Proposed race connectens (Dawong, in Herzog Mts), treated as synonym of latipennis. Proposed race sphinx, described on basis of one immature male (like minor but considerably larger, with more reddish-brown on upperparts, eyestripe less extensive, forehead and neck lacking white flecks), is of unknown origin, but possibly from mountains of far SE New Guinea; validity unproven. Form named as "pseudoparotia" (based on single specimen from Hunstein Mts, in middle Sepik Mts) has been shown to be hybrid of present species and Parotia carolae. Five subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • superba ( J. R. Forster, 1781) - Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts and Arfak Mts), in NW New Guinea.
  • niedda Mayr, 1930 - Mt Wondiwoi (in Wandammen Peninsula), in NW New Guinea.
  • feminina Ogilvie-Grant, 1915 - C Cordillera from Weyland Mts E to C New Guinea (Hindenburg Mts and Victor Emanuel Mts).

     See all 5 subspecies
  • superba ( J. R. Forster, 1781) - Vogelkop (Tamrau Mts and Arfak Mts), in NW New Guinea.
  • niedda Mayr, 1930 - Mt Wondiwoi (in Wandammen Peninsula), in NW New Guinea.
  • feminina Ogilvie-Grant, 1915 - C Cordillera from Weyland Mts E to C New Guinea (Hindenburg Mts and Victor Emanuel Mts).
  • latipennis Rothschild, 1907 - E & NE New Guinea in Central Highlands and Eastern Highlands (E to Herzog Mts, Kuper Range and Ekuti Range), also Adelbert Mts and mountains of Huon Peninsula.
  • minor E. P. Ramsay, 1885 - mountains of SE New Guinea (E probably from SE of Wau).
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