The Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba), also called the greater lophorina, superb-bird-of-paradise, greater superb bird-of-paradise, or greater superb-bird-of-paradise is a species of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It was considered the sole species in the genus until in 2017 it was recognised that there were three species (L. superba, Lophorina minor, and Lophorina niedda). The greater lophorina is distributed throughout rain forests of New Guinea. It inhabits most commonly in rain forests or forest edges of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. They can also be found inhabiting mountainous habitats of the forests in New Guinea. The greater lophorina is also usually found on top of the trees that reside in the rain forests. The greater lophorina travels across the trees in the forest to catch its prey which can vary depending on seasonal availability of food. The greater lophorina has not only been known to eat fruits and insects, but also have been spotted preying on larger animals such as frogs, reptiles, and other small birds. They can sometimes be seen foraging food on the grounds of the forest for insects. Known predators of the superb bird-of-paradise include birds of prey and snakes. The species has an unusually low population of females, and competition amongst males for mates is intensely fierce. This has led the species to have one of the most bizarre and elaborate courtship displays in the avian world. After carefully and meticulously preparing a "dance floor" (even scrubbing the dirt or branch smooth with leaves), the male first attracts a female with a loud call. After the curious female approaches, his folded black feather cape and blue-green breast shield springs upward and spreads widely and symmetrically around its head, instantly transforming the frontal view of the bird into a spectacular ellipse-shaped creature that rhythmically snaps its tail feathers against each other, similar to how snapping fingers work, whilst hopping in frantic circles around the female.
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