Arnold Pagenstecher and Staudinger both described this butterfly, under different names and the first description by Staudinger was based on a manuscript sent to him by Pagenstecher who possessed specimens from the collection of D. Wolf von Schönberg in Naumburg who had acquired them from a colonist in the then German New Guinea.

As they are sexually dimorphic, males and females differ in the size, shape and colour of the wings.

The costal edge is black and there are two large, yellow gold and green bands.

Adult males fly high around trees rarely descending to the ground.

Females fly below the canopy searching for the food plant which is a species of Aristolochia with orange fruits.

The male emits a pleasant scent from the fringe of white hairs along the anal vein of the hindwing.

Eggs are laid singly and are attached to the ventral surface of an Aristolochia leaf or a nearby object.

In his 1983 report to the Department of Primary Industries, Papua New Guinea, M.J. Parsons wrote that "Ironically it is now becoming an accepted fact that the very demand for Ornithoptera is one of the main assets which will ensure their future survival if they can be exploited in the correct way.

"[3] The paradise birdwing is listed on CITES appendix II, limiting the international exportation of the species to those who are granted a permit.