Distinctive courtship phenotype of the Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise Mayr, 1930 confirms new species status.

The birds-of-paradise (Aves: Paradisaeidae) are a quintessential example of elaborate ornamental diversification among animals. Ornamental evolution in the birds-of-paradise is exemplified by the presence of a highly integrated courtship phenotype, which is the whole package of plumage ornaments, behaviors and sounds that each species uses during courtship. Characterizing a species' courtship phenotype is therefore a key part of evolutionary and taxonomic investigation in the group. With its unprecedented transmogrification from bird-like form into something abstract and otherworldly, the courtship phenotype of the Superb Bird-of-Paradise, is one of the most remarkable of all. Recent research by Irestedt et al. (2017) suggests that the genus is not a single species but is likely a complex of three allopatric species spanning the island of New Guinea: in the Bird's Head Peninsula of the west, throughout the central cordillera and in the Papuan Peninsula of the east. Of these, is the most phenotypically divergent with plumage traits hypothesized to possibly produce differences in ornamental appearance during display. However, the whole courtship phenotype of has not been documented and so the actual extent of differences in ornamental appearance during courtship remain unknown. Here we analyze the first audiovisual recordings of and compare its courtship phenotype with to test the hypothesis of potential differences in ornamental appearance Our main goals are to: (1) provide the first description of the courtship phenotype of in the wild, (2) determine if and how the courtship phenotype differs from and (3) evaluate any uncovered differences in light of newly recognized species status. Our secondary goal is to provide a more thorough characterization of courtship phenotype diversity within the genus to facilitate future comparative study within the genus and family Results show that the courtship phenotype differs substantially from in numerous aspects of ornamental appearance, display behavior and sound. We highlight six key differences and conclude that the new species status of is corroborated by the distinctly differentiated ornamental features documented here With full species status, becomes the fourth endemic bird-of-paradise to the Bird's Head region of Indonesian New Guinea (i.e., the Vogelkop Peninsula), a fact that underscores the importance of this region as a center of endemic biodiversity worthy of enhanced conservation protection.