Birds of Paradise Totally Explained

Everything about The Birds Of Paradise totally explained

The birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. They are found in eastern Indonesia, Torres Strait Islands, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of most species, in particular highly elongated and elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings or head. Birds of paradise range in size from the King Bird of Paradise at 50 grams (1.8 oz) and 15 cm (6 in) to the Black Sicklebill at 110 cm (43 in) and the Curl-crested Manucode at 430 grams (15.2 oz).
   Best known are the members of the genus Paradisaea, including the type species, the Greater Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea apoda. This species was described from specimens brought back to Europe from trading expeditions. These specimens had been prepared by native traders by removing their wings and feet so that they could be used as decorations. This wasn't known to the explorers and led to the belief that the birds never landed but were kept permanently aloft by their plumes. This is the origin of both the name "birds of paradise" and the specific name apoda - without feet.
   Most species have elaborate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea species using a lek-type mating system. Others, such as the Cicinnurus and Parotia species, have highly ritualized mating dances. Males are polygamous in the sexually dimorphic species. Hybridization is frequent in these birds. Many hybrids have been described as new species, and doubt remains regarding whether some forms, such as Rothschild's Lobe-billed Bird of Paradise, are valid. Clutch size is somewhat uncertain. In the large species, it's probably almost always just one egg. Smaller species may produce clutches of 2-3.(Mackay 1990)
   The manucodes are the most primitive of the group. The Birds of Paradise are the sister group to the Corvids (crows & jays).

Species of Birds of Paradise

Genus Lycocorax

Paradise Crow, Lycocorax pyrrhopterus

Genus Manucodia

Glossy-mantled Manucode, Manucodia atra

Jobi Manucode, Manucodia jobiensis

Crinkle-collared Manucode, Manucodia chalybata

Curl-crested Manucode, Manucodia comrii

Trumpet Manucode, Manucodia keraudrenii Genus Paradigalla

Long-tailed Paradigalla, Paradigalla carunculata

Short-tailed Paradigalla, Paradigalla brevicauda Genus Astrapia

Arfak Astrapia, Astrapia nigra

Splendid Astrapia, Astrapia splendidissima

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, Astrapia mayeri

Stephanie's Astrapia, Astrapia stephaniae

Huon Astrapia, Astrapia rothschildi Genus Parotia

Western Parotia, Parotia sefilata

Carola's Parotia, Parotia carolae

Berlepsch's Parotia, Parotia berlepschi

Lawes's Parotia, Parotia lawesii

Eastern Parotia, Parotia helenae

Wahnes's Parotia, Parotia wahnesi Genus Pteridophora

King of Saxony Bird of Paradise, Pteridophora alberti Genus Lophorina

Superb Bird of Paradise, Lophorina superba

Genus Ptiloris

Magnificent Riflebird, Ptiloris magnificus

Eastern Riflebird, Ptiloris intercedens

Paradise Riflebird, Ptiloris paradiseus

Victoria's Riflebird, Ptiloris victoriae Genus Epimachus

Black Sicklebill, Epimachus fastuosus

Brown Sicklebill, Epimachus meyeri

Black-billed Sicklebill, Epimachus albertisi

Pale-billed Sicklebill, Epimachus bruijnii Genus Cicinnurus

Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus magnificus

Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus respublica

King Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus regius Genus Semioptera

Wallace's Standardwing, Semioptera wallacii Genus Seleucidis

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, Seleucidis melanoleuca Genus Paradisaea

Lesser Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea minor

Greater Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea apoda

Raggiana Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea raggiana

Goldie's Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea decora

Red Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea rubra

Emperor Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea guilielmi

Blue Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea rudolphi

Greater "Melampitta"

Greater Melampitta, "Melampitta" gigantea - tentatively included in this group Formerly placed here

Loria's Bird-of-paradise, Cnemophilus loriae - probably closer to Melanocharitidae (berrypeckers) (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000).

Crested Bird-of-paradise, Cnemophilus macgregorii - probably closer to Melanocharitidae (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000).

Yellow-breasted Bird-of-paradise, Loboparadisea sericea - probably closer to Melanocharitidae (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000).

Macgregor's Giant Honeyeater (formerly "Macgregor's Bird-of-paradise"), Macgregoria pulchra - recently found to be a honeyeater (Cracraft & Feinstein 2000).

Lesser Melampitta, Melampitta lugubris - for some time tentatively placed here; probably Orthonychidae (logrunners)

Relationship with humans

Societies of New Guinea often use bird of paradise plumes in their dress and rituals, and the plumes were very important in Europe in ladies' millinery in past centuries. Hunting for plumes and habitat destruction have reduced some species to endangered status; habitat destruction due to deforestation is now the predominant threat.
   Hunting birds of paradise for their plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century (Cribb 1997), but today the birds enjoy legal protection and hunting is only permitted at a sustainable level to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population. In the case of Pteridophora plumes, scavenging from old bowerbird bowers is encouraged. When King Mahendra of Nepal was crowned in 1955, it was found that the bird of paradise plumes of the Nepali royal crown were in need of replacement. Due to the hunting ban, replacements were eventually procured from a confiscated shipment seized by United States Customs.
   Hunting of birds of paradise has occurred for a long time, possibly since the beginning of human settlement. It is a peculiarity that among the most frequently-hunted species, males start mating opportunistically even before they grow their ornamental plumage. This may be an adaptation maintaining population levels in the face of hunting pressures, which have probably been present for 30 millennia.
   The southern hemisphere constellation Apus represents a bird of paradise.
   An adult-plumaged male bird of paradise is depicted on the flag of Papua New Guinea. David Attenborough has nominated some bird of paradise as his favorite animal species, probably referring to Wilson's Bird of Paradise. Charlie Parker, himself nicknamed Bird, wrote and played a song entitled "Bird of Paradise".

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