Trumpet Manucode

1. Glossy blue-black plumage with blue-green and violet iridescence

2. Striking red eye and elongated "ear tufts" with a shaggy nape

3. Long, slightly rounded tail (not forked)

Trumpet Manucodes are monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds-a rare trait among birds-of-paradise. Both parents share nest-building, incubation, and chick-rearing duties. Their nests are open, cup-shaped structures made of vine tendrils, usually placed high in the canopy. The breeding season is not strictly defined but is most active from August to January, coinciding with peak fruit availability. The species feeds mainly on fruit and invertebrates, foraging in pairs or small groups. The Trumpet Manucode is listed as Least Concern, though its populations in Australia are patchy and localized.

In Australia, Trumpet Manucodes are restricted to the rainforests of northeastern Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics, from the Daintree region south to around Ingham. They prefer mature lowland and hill rainforests, but can also be found at forest edges, in secondary growth, and occasionally in mangroves. Look for them in the middle to upper canopy, often perched on exposed branches while calling. Their loud, trumpeting calls are often the first clue to their presence.