Eastern coastal Australia, from south-eastern Queensland (Calliope Range, south of Rockhampton) southern on Great Dividing Range, also some lowlands to east, to north-eastern New South Wales (south to just north of Newcastle).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Voice
A slow, drawn out rasp, lasting three or four seconds, repeated quickly or with several minutes between each call. A 'scraarsh, scraaarsh' or 'yaaarss'. A long, upwards whistle and soft churring in display.
Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) [XC492220]
by id from Whian Whian, Lismore City Council, New South Wales, Australia (call)
Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) [XC434417]
by Mike fitzgerald from Benarkin State Forest, Queensland, Australia (song)
Nest
A shallow bowl of vine-tendrils and dead leaves, lined with fine stems and twigs, and occasionally snake skin, usually in a mass of vines or in foliage near the top of a tall tree in dense scrub, often well hidden.
Eggs (Guide)
Usually 2; lustrous, rich pink-cream, boldly and uniformly marked and striped with chestnut-red, purple-brown and grey; oval; about 36 x 24 mm. Incubation: 15 - 16 days; by female.
Young
Fledge in about 4 weeks.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) which has a long tail and shorter more robust bill, and Victoria's Riflebird (Lophorina victoriae) which has a different range (further north).
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9