ðə nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪt sˈʌbspiːsˌiːz, pˈiː. ˈɑːɹ. ɹˌæɡiˈɑːnə, hɐz ðə dˈiːpɪst ɹˈɛd plˈuːmz, wˌaɪl ðə sˈʌbspiːsˌiːz pˈiː. ˈɑːɹ. ˌɔːɡəstˌævɪktˈoːɹɪˌiː ʌv nˈɔːɹθiːst nˈuː ɡˈɪni, ˈɔːlsoʊ nˈoʊn æz ðɪ ˈɛmpɹɛs ʌv dʒˈɜːməniz bˈɜːd ʌv pˈæɹədˌaɪs, hɐz ˈeɪpɹɪkˌɑːtˈɔɹɪndʒ plˈuːmz.
The nominate subspecies, P. r. raggiana, has the deepest red plumes, while the subspecies P. r. augustavictoriae of northeast New Guinea, also known as the Empress of Germany's bird of paradise, has apricot-orange plumes.