Superb Bird-of-Paradise: Psychedelic Smiley Face

When you see a Superb Bird-of-Paradise displaying, it doesn't look like a bird at all. The change is so complete that females just see a jet-black disk with an electric-blue "smiley face" pattern. A close look at the transformation reveals how modified feathers on the head, back, and flank combine in an unexpected way to create a spectacular effect.

Filmed and photographed by Tim Laman and Ed Scholes.
#birdsofparadise #birdsofpradiseproject #birdofparadise

[Zuxiasunicorn]

Of all the birds of paradise, this little guy is my favorite. That clicking is from him beating his feathers on the log faster than the eye can see.

[MatthewKarns]

Nature is more awesome than anything else, ever. Period.

[briannawarren]

That was a really good explanation of how the transformation takes place, thank you for making this

[flaminglotus]

We just saw this bird’s amazing transformation in the Honolulu Zoom. What a show! We got him to perform for us by talking and dancing for him first. ;)

[kontrolad]

Fantastic!! Thanks for sharing your experience

[OonaCanute]

I cannot believe the little beak tufts!!

[ChompNom]

You know whats really interesting is that a lot of these types of birds showcase to females very similar patterns, mainly the huge black roundish disc and something iridescent within the disc. The ballerina bird from top view is similar to the horizontal view of this smiley-face bird.

[catpoke]

I get the feeling this doubles as a defense mechanism. If you're gonna be super brightly colored might as well also look terrifying so when predators inevitably see you, you can scare them. Animals hate unusual faces. It's not unusual for animals to make mock faces to trick or creep out predators. I get this feeling purely because of the fake eyes. It's just such a weird trait to use purely for breeding.

[narwhao]

Thank you to tumblr for enlightening me to the jumping iridescent smiley bird.

[t-rexstudioproductions]

Now we have 2 Superb Bird of Paradise
Superb Bird Of Paradise (greater lophorina)
And Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise

[TesserId]

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation of the various components of the display. I'm starting a list false eye (eyespot) examples, and really wanted to know for certain that the eyespots were legitimate. It's interesting that they can, I think, legitimately be called eyespots (from an emergent perspective) but aren't actually formed from to actual spots.

[judithwalker]

Is this narrated by Tim Laman? Or Ed Scholes? Oh, what wonders you have shown us!
Thank You. Again and again. Thank you both, (and all others) Than you so very much.

[KiraleosAkis]

Even though i'm an atheist.. i cant believe how that much detail can be made possible.. im stunned

[reneebrown]

How the crap does he fly with a ginormous cape in the back🤔

[amdurso]

Fascinating and excellently done. I read on Wikipedia that this species has a highly skewed sex ratio but I could not find any other resources either supporting or refuting this claim - is this true?

[ItsVideos]

One of my all-time-favorite birds. Lots of good information here. I have a comment about 3:19. It looks more like the male is herding the female around, rather than reacting to her movements. Look at it in slow motion. Also, I have a comment about 3:50. Saying the male is exhausted just because you can see that he is breathing is not a logical scientific conclusion. Birds breathe. They fly (long distances!), they hop (a lot!), and they breathe.

[OonaCanute]

What a nasty and unnecessary thing to say on such a lovely video.

[charleshein]

: 0  <-- PSERCHDERLERC SMAHLER FERC (again)

[charleshein]

: 0  <-- PSERCHDERLERC SMAHLER FERC