The name commemorates the Scottish collector Andrew Goldie, who discovered the bird in 1882.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and overhunting in some areas, the Goldie's bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Goldie's bird-of-paradise is large, approximately 33 cm long, and olive-brown.

It is adorned with large crimson ornamental flank plumes and two long tail wires.

The male is distinguished from other Paradisaea species by its lavender grey breast plumage.