Photo: osaingre / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Magnificent Riflebird
Ptiloris magnificus
Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) is a member of the Paradisaeidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 150 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Paradisaeidae Birds-of-paradise
- Genus Ptiloris
- Species magnificus
Where it lives
Western, central New Guinea and northern Cape York Pen., northeastern QLD (northeastern Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 150 g
- Diet
- Fruit-eaters
- Family
- Paradisaeidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magnificent Riflebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Magnificent Riflebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) is a member of the Paradisaeidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU w, c New Guinea and n Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 150 g, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 9.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 495,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magnificent Riflebird?
The Magnificent Riflebird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 150 g.
Where does the Magnificent Riflebird live?
The Magnificent Riflebird is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU w, c New Guinea and n Cape York Pen., ne QLD (ne Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Magnificent Riflebird belong to?
The Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) belongs to the Paradisaeidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Magnificent Riflebird eat?
The Magnificent Riflebird is a frugivore — it feeds mainly on fruit.
Does the Magnificent Riflebird migrate?
The Magnificent Riflebird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Magnificent Riflebird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Magnificent Riflebird make?
1 real field recording of the Magnificent Riflebird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magnificent Riflebird's range?
The Magnificent Riflebird has a mapped global range of about 495,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Paradisaeidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Vulnerable
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.