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Trumpet Manucodes are large birds of paradise. The two sexes are alike, with only minor differences in the colouring of the irises and the glossiness of their plumage. The plumage is all-black, with purple-greenish gloss. Trumpet Manucodes have a long black tail. The irises are orange to red. The short, pointy bill is grey with a darker tip. Legs and feet are dark-grey. Juveniles are not glossy yet and do not have shaggy nape feathers yet.

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org .

The global distribution of the Trumpet Manucode is available HERE .

There are about 10 extant races of Trumpet Manicudes (for details see a field guide). Their total range extends from West Papua via New Guinea to the Aru Islands, plus far north-eastern Australia.

On Australian territory two races of the Trumpet Manucode are present. On the islands along Torres Strait race "jonesi" is present, where as on mainland Australia only race "gouldi" is found. The range of race "gouldi", is limited, comprising only parts of the tip of Cape York peninsula, QLD, and the near-coastal fringe on the eastern side of the peninsula, as far to the South as Iron Range NP, QLD.

Trumpet Manucodes have a preference for lowland and foothill rainforest and vine thickets.

Race "gouldii"