Species Spotlight

Species Spotlight: Magnificent Riflebird

November 6, 2026 by Kai Pflug No Comments

I set my alarm for half an hour before sunrise. Early even for me, but the coffee helped.

By the time the first rays lit my staging post—a fairly open, horizontal branch in Nimbokrang—I was ready.

I began slowly, testing my voice and my moves.

Then I found my rhythm. My movements grew smoother, my feathers caught the light, and I’ll admit I was almost impressed by my own reflection.

I felt proud. It was a good performance. I gave it everything.

Half an hour in, though, there was still no audience.

Not a single female. Not even a polite clap from the rainforest.

Yes, I looked magnificent—but it all seemed very pointless. As if I were doing this for my own sake.

I gave up.

Another wasted day in paradise.

If you are a female riflebird, here are some videos of what you missed:

All photos and videos taken in the Nimbokrang region, West Papua, October 2026.

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai has lived in Shanghai for 22 years. He only started birding after moving to China, so he is far more familiar with Chinese birds than the ones back in his native Germany. As a birder, he considers himself strictly average and tries to make up for it with photography, which he shares on a separate website. Alas, most of the photos are pretty average as well. He hopes that few clients of his consulting firm—focused on China’s chemical industry—ever find this blog, as it might raise questions about his professional priorities. Much of his time is spent either editing posts for 10,000 Birds or cleaning the litter boxes of his numerous indoor cats. He occasionally considers writing a piece comparing the two activities.