Monday 3 March 2014

My FIRST Anniversary BLOG - Victoria Riflebird

One year ago today I started my blog and if you ever read that few lines in my first blog, you would know that I did not have a clue!  However over the past year, I have learnt a great deal, thanks to many bloggers who have encouraged, and taught me different aspects of the blogging process.  I now have written 323 posts, with 117 countries having looked in on the site and have had nearly 85,000 page views.  Now how this happened, I am not too sure however I have enjoyed the experience and have made quite a lot of lovely ‘blogger’ friends for which I am thankful.  So today, I am sharing with you the most beautiful bird I saw in Australia that had the most dramatic display – the Victoria Riflebird.


The Victoria’s Riflebird -Ptiloris victoriae also known as Duwuduwu to the local Aboriginal people, is a bird of paradise endemic to the Atherton Tableland region of northeastern Queensland, Australia where it resides year-round.


This is the smallest Riflebird, it measures between 23–25 cm. Males have an iridescent purple sheen plumage, which becomes more blue-green on the head and more bronze on the lower breast. The throat is velvety black with a metallic green and blue triangular patch in the centre. Females have a pale eyebrow, and the buff underparts are faintly barred with brown. The call is a loud "yaars".


As well as insects, they eat fruits from the trees, some which they peel by holding the fruit with one foot and removing the skin with their bill.



The Victoria's Riflebird was discovered by John Macgillivray for John Gould in 1848 and is named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.


When the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat and sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage in the shafts of sunlight that pierce the dimness of the rain forest. He curves his rounded wings above his body and tilts his head back to expose his chin and throat to the light, and then moves from side to side in a fashion that looks almost mechanical.


The female is attracted to the male's display post by his raspy 'yaars' call, which becomes softer and more tuneful during the display.




The shot below is not mine, all the others are however when the bird that I saw was displaying, no female turned up and I wanted you to see one.  The pair then face each other closely, and each bird raises and extends its wings forward alternately in an increasingly rapid rhythm. Finally the male embraces the female with both wings, and copulation ensues.



I am going to show you a short video of the Victoria Riflebird displaying which I took from youtube as I was disappointed how mine turned out

It can be accessd at


If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.





I hope you enjoyed this post and I thank all who have visited today whether bloggers, facebook, Google Plus or email readers.  I thank you very much for your support and friendship over the past year.   

23 comments:

  1. Happy blogoversary - and thank you for this stunner.

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    1. HI EC Many thanks and I am glad you liked this beautiful bird.

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  2. they are magnificent Margaret; and congratulations on your one-year anniversary in BlogLand

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    1. Hi Carole Glad you liked this bird and thanks for being a great encouragement when I was having terrible trouble with my blog. I might have given up without your help!

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  3. Happy first birthday Margaret :-)

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  4. Congratulations on your first year of blogging Margaret...[;o)

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  5. Hi Trevor Many thanks for comment. Also many thanks for help and encouragement you have given me over the past year with your usual funny sense of humour that I alwys get a laugh from. Just off from I.O.W
    to home.

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  6. Margaret, happy 1st blog anniversary.. Thanks this cool bird. Lovely photos and video. Have a happy day and enjoy your new week.

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    1. Hi Eileen Many thanks for the good wishes and I am glad you enjoyed both the photos, video and info. On mainland now and waiting for train to airport.

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  7. Happy first anniversary! You are one of the most hardworking bloggers I know. No wonder you have so many followers! xx

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    1. Hi Em. What a lovle thing to say so many thanks that my hard work is appreciated. That means a lot to me. have a good day.

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  8. Congratulations on your first year of Blogging :) Lovely informative post with some great photos :)

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    1. Hi RR. aldyou enjoyed the post and many thanks for comment.

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  9. Happy Anniversary Margaret . . . I enjoy seeing the birding you enjoy near you and in the many, many places you visit . . .

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  10. happy one year blogiversary! that riflebird is neat. his body is puffed up like a pine cone - both those 'arm' movements. :)

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  11. Happy 1 Year Blogaversary! I enjoyed the video. That's quite an amazing display the bird puts on. He's beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Congratulations one one year in blogland. I hope you stay here for a long time.That bird is amazing,both in coloration and in actions.

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  13. Happy Anniversary! These dates seem to come around very quickly.

    What a bird! Just seeing one would be good enough - never mind the considerations of pictures.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Scottsdale, AZ (and Melbourne!)

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  14. Happy anniversary! What an amazing display. Quite a handsome fella, and his girl is gorgeous. The bill looks like an effective tool to eat whatever it would like!

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  15. Congratulations, Margaret! Wonderful photos and spectacular video. I wonder how the name of "riflebird" came about...

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