Facts About Birds of Paradise

Facts About Birds of Paradise

1. The Birds of Paradise are a family of 38 species of birds in and near New Guinea that are famous for their spectacular plumages.  Some common names of birds in this family include Manucodes,  Paradigallas, Astrapias, Parotias, Riflebirds, Sicklebills, Paradise Crow, and Birds of Paradise. 

2. Birds of Paradise range in length from 16 cm (Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus (Diphyllodes) respublica) to 125 cm (male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Astrapia mayeri).

3. The Birds of Paradise are part of a large assemblage of songbirds called the Corvida. Other songbirds in this assemblage include some familiar to you, such as crows and jays, as well as many that are special to Australia and the South Pacific. 

4. Most species of Birds of Paradise occur on the island of New Guinea, or on smaller, nearby islands. However,  three species of Birds of Paradise-the Riflebirds-occur in northwestern Australia. 

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

5. Almost all Birds of Paradise require humid forest to live.

6. Most Birds of Paradise eat both insects and fruit, but especially fruit. Birds of paradise are important dispersers of fruit seeds. They are more agile and acrobatic than other birds and that allows them to eat more types of fruit. Also, their guts are less destructive to seeds than those of other animals, and they travel further than other fruit-eating birds, so that they're more likely to disperse seeds away from the parent plant. A number of fruit trees are thought to be entirely reliant on Birds of Paradise for seed-dispersal.

7. Many birds of paradise have evolved elaborate male plumages and displays. Special aspects of their plumage include modified feathers, such as flank plumes (elongated feathers coming out of the sides of their bodies), and feathers modified as wires, spatulas, or other shapes that come out of their tails, wings, heads or sides. 

8. Birds of Paradise are often very colorful and iridescent. Male Manucodes-especially male Trumpet Manucodes-have elongated vocal organs that allow them to produce sounds very different from those of females.

9. Most Birds of Paradise produce loud, harsh vocalizations. Some species produce unique sounds. One sound of males of the Blue Bird of Paradise has been described as resembling an "electric motor humming." Another sound of males of the King of Saxony Bird of Paradise has been compared to radio-static. In comparison to males, females Birds of Paradise are very quiet.

Black Sicklebill

10. Birds of Paradise have a wide variety of breeding systems. Some species, especially those whose males have spectacular plumage, form leks-large groups of males that display together to females. Females observe the displays, and mate with one male (often the same one or two males are selected by the majority of females). where males and females look practically alike, males and females pair up, and both participate in incubation  and rearing of the young.  Still, in other species, males' only job in reproduction is to display to females and mate with them.

11. The nests of birds of paradise are cup shaped. In some species they are placed on the ground or in low vegetation. In others, they are suspended in forking branches. 

12. Birds of Paradise feature prominently in New Guinean cultures. Their plumes are used in traditional ceremonial dress, and play important roles in traditional tales. Skins of Birds of Paradise have been traded for centuries.