Which rainforest bird is the national bird of Papua New Guinea?

The Raggiana bird-of-paradise is the national bird of Papua New Guinea.

Known locally as the kumul, it appears on Papua New Guinea’s national flag and has been an important national symbol since independence in 1975. The species is native to New Guinea, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests, including rainforest.

Males are famous for their elaborate courtship displays. They gather at display sites called leks, where they fan their reddish-orange flank plumes and perform visual displays to attract females. Females are less brightly coloured and select mates based largely on these performances.

The Raggiana bird-of-paradise is one of several spectacular birds-of-paradise found in New Guinea. It should not be confused with the superb bird-of-paradise or the king of Saxony bird-of-paradise, which are different species.