The birds-of-paradise are among the most beautiful creatures on earth—and an extraordinary example of
evolutionary adaptation
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Color and the Birds-of-Paradise
You can find almost any color of the rainbow among the birds-of-paradise. Males advertise themselves with color
—often several vivid colors combined—while females have brownish plumage whose main purpose is
camouflage.
The 39 Species
The 39 species of birds-of-paradise include tiny, starling-sized birds and big, crow-sized birds; birds in vivid
blues, greens, and reds; birds with head plumes, tail plumes, back plumes, chest plumes, and no plumes;
mountain birds and swamp birds; branch dancers, pole dancers, ballerina dancers.
There are more than three dozen species in the familyParadisaeidae, more commonly known as the birds of
paradise. Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These
colors distinguish them as some of the world's most dramatic and attractive birds. Males often sport vibrant
feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Some species have
enormous head plumes or other distinctive ornaments, such as breastshields or head fans.
Males put their bright colors and unusual ornaments to good use when they display for females. Their elaborate
dances, poses, and other rituals accentuate their appearance and put on a phenomenal show for both female
birds and any humans lucky enough to be in the vicinity. Such displays can last for hours, and in many species
they consume a significant part of the male's time.
Birds of paradise are found in New Guinea and surroundingislands. The manucodes and riflebirds species also
dwell in Australia. Birds of paradise are so attractive that their appearance once made them the target of skin
hunters, who decimated some species.
These birds also lend their name to a colorful flower. South Africa's bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a
member of the banana family. It sports abeautiful flower believed to resemble the avian bird of paradise in flight.
Europeans first became aware of birds of paradise in the sixteenth century, after merchants returned from
Indonesia with prepared specimens known as 'trade skins'. These skins were made to display the birds' fabulous
plumes, and had the feet and wings cut off. As a result some Europeans thought that the birds did not have feet
and spent their lives floating through the air, drinking dew and never touching the earth until their death. It was
because of this that they were called birds of paradise.
The extraordinary beauty of these birds combined with the mysteries of their lifestyle meant that they were sought
after by collectors, who often obtained them through the plume trade.
The birds of paradise are a group of birds that are found in
the tropical rainforests of south east Asia, mainly in the jungles of Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea and parts of eastern Australia.
Birds of paradise are best known for the beautiful array of feathers which are existent on
the male birds of paradise, which the male birdof paradise uses to attract the attention of
the surrounding female birds of paradise.
Birds of the gods
“Birds of paradise glisten like seldom glimpsed denizens of an Asiatic harem, who are clad in gold of
many hues and dipped in the purple of dawn.”––Thomas Forrest, The Breadtree Fruit, 1784
Birds of paradise outshine other birds with their beautiful plumage and
spectacular courtship displays. Their gorgeous colors and fantastical trailing plumes gave rise to
incredible stories of their origins and habits, and the Malay phrase for the birds, manuq dewata,
translates to birds of the gods
HideBeautiful birds
No other bird group is so beautiful or so rich in variety of plumage and behavior as the birds of paradise. They are usually
heavy-billed and rather stout birds, but there are many species, each having its own unique look and colors. Birds of paradise
range from the size of a starling to the size of a crow. And that doesn't include the male's feathery tail that can be up to 3 feet
(1 meter) long, depending on species!
In plumage, birds of paradise range from black to a painter’s palette of bright colors. Some of the feathers are as delicate as
lace, while others shimmer with a metallic golden sheen. Some males have wattles, bright-blue mouths, or colored patches of
naked skin. These birds of paradise look like something you could find only in an imaginary land.
- See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/bird-paradise#sthash.lqDC3GCd.dpuf
http://www.birdsofparadiseproject.org/
http://bioexpedition.com/bird-of-paradise/
http://a-z-animals.com/animals/birds-of-paradise/
Fruits and berries are the most common food sources for the Bird of Paradise.
However, some species also consume lots of insects as well as spiders. Worms have
also been identified as a source of food for this bird. It comes down to where they live
and what foods that they have available.
They don’t consume a great deal of food but it can take them several hours a day to
find it and to consume it. They are often opportunistic and they will eat much more
than they need to if there is an abundance of food.
Fun Fact
The bird of paradise, besides being concentrated in New Guinea, has been
used in ceremonial headdresses and other cultural decorations by the people
of New Guinea for centuries. Because the bird is such an integral part of life
on the island, it appears on the Papua-New Guinea flag.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5407150_bird-paradise-
habitat.html#ixzz2wJm4KlvN
