The birds-of-paradise are members of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Paradisaeidae of the order
Passeriformes
A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by th ...
. The majority of
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
are found in eastern
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
,
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
and eastern
Australia. The family has 44 species in 17
genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the
plumage of the males of the species, the majority of which are
sexually dimorphic
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...
. The males of these species tend to have very long, elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings, tail or head. For the most part they are confined to dense
rainforest habitat. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent
arthropods. The birds-of-paradise have a variety of breeding systems, ranging from
monogamy
Monogamy ( ) is a form of dyadic relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time (serial monogamy) — as compared to the various forms of non-monogamy (e.g., polyg ...
to
lek-type
polygamy
Crimes
Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is ...
.
A number of species are
threatened
Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensa ...
by hunting and
habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
.
Taxonomy
The family Paradisaeidae was introduced (as Paradiseidae) in 1825 with ''Paradisaea'' as the
type genus
In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name.
Zoological nomenclature
According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal ...
by the English naturalist
William John Swainson. For many years the birds-of-paradise were treated as being closely related to the
bowerbirds. Today while both are treated as being part of the Australasian lineage
Corvida
The "Corvida" were one of two "parvorders" contained within the suborder Passeri, as proposed in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, the other being Passerida. Standard taxonomic practice would place them at the rank of infraorder.
More recent rese ...
, the two are now thought to be only distantly related. The closest evolutionary relatives of the birds-of-paradise are the crow and jay family
Corvidae
Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. In colloquial English, they are known as the crow family or corvids. Cu ...
, the monarch flycatchers
Monarchidae and the Australian mudnesters
Struthideidae.
A 2009 study examining the
mitochondrial DNA of all species to examine the relationships within the family and to its nearest relatives estimated that the family emerged 24 million years ago, earlier than previous estimates. The study identified five
clades within the family, and placed the split between the first clade, which contains the monogamous
manucode
Manucodes are birds-of-paradise in the genus ''Manucodia'', that are medium-sized with black-glossed purple and green plumages.
The members of this genus are distributed in the lowland forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. They are monogam ...
s and
paradise-crow, and all the other birds-of-paradise, to be 10 million years ago. The second clade includes the
parotia
The parotias are a genus, ''Parotia'', of passerine birds in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. They are endemic to New Guinea. They are also known as six-plumed birds of paradise, due to their six head quills. These birds were featured ...
s and the
King of Saxony bird-of-paradise. The third clade provisionally contains several genera, including ''Seleucidis'', the ''Drepanornis'' sicklebills, ''Semioptera'', ''Ptiloris'' and ''Lophorina'', although some of these are questionable. The fourth clade includes the ''Epimachus'' sicklebills, ''Paradigalla'' and the astrapias. The final clade includes the ''Cicinnurus'' and the ''Paradisaea'' birds-of-paradise.
The exact limits of the family have been the subject of revision as well. The three species of
satinbird
The satinbirds or cnemophilines, are a family, Cnemophilidae of passerine birds which consists of four species found in the mountain forests of New Guinea. They were originally thought to be part of the birds-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae unti ...
(the genera ''
Cnemophilus
''Cnemophilus'' is a genus of satinbirds in the family Cnemophilidae, in which all three species are native to New Guinea mountain slopes and highlands in tropical forests. The generic name ''Cnemophilus'' is Latin for "mountain/slope-lover".
...
'' and ''
Loboparadisea'') were treated as a subfamily of the birds-of-paradise, Cnemophilinae. In spite of differences in the mouth, foot morphology and nesting habits they remained in the family until a 2000 study moved them to a separate family closer to the berrypeckers and longbills (
Melanocharitidae
The Melanocharitidae, the berrypeckers and longbills, is a small bird family restricted to the forests of New Guinea. The family contains eleven species in four (sometimes three) genera. They are small songbirds with generally dull plumage but a ...
).
[
] The same study found that the
Macgregor's bird-of-paradise was actually a member of the large Australasian
honeyeater family. In addition to these three species, a number of systematically enigmatic species and genera have been considered potential members of this family. The two species in the genus ''Melampitta'', also from New Guinea, have been linked with the birds-of-paradise, but their relationships remain uncertain, more recently being linked with the Australian mudnesters.
The
silktail of
Fiji has been linked with the birds-of-paradise many times since its discovery, but never formally assigned to the family. Recent molecular evidence now places the species with the
fantails.
Phylogeny
A genus level phylogeny of the family has been determined by Martin Irestedt and collaborators.
[
]
Species
genus: '' Lycocorax''
:* Halmahera paradise-crow, ''Lycocorax pyrrhopterus''
:* Obi paradise-crow, ''Lycocorax obiensis''
genus: ''Manucodia
Manucodes are birds-of-paradise in the genus ''Manucodia'', that are medium-sized with black-glossed purple and green plumages.
The members of this genus are distributed in the lowland forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. They are monogamo ...
''
:* Glossy-mantled manucode
The glossy-mantled manucode (''Manucodia ater'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The glossy-mantled manucode was the first bird of paradise encountered by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson, the first westerner to see live wild bird ...
, ''Manucodia ater''
:* Tagula manucode
The Tagula manucode (''Manucodia alter'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
Distribution
Endemic to Papua New Guinea, the Tagula manucode is distributed to Tagula Island of the Louisiade Archipelago
The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ...
, ''Manucodia alter''
:* Jobi manucode
The Jobi manucode (''Manucodia jobiensis'') is a species of crow-like bird-of-paradise.
The Jobi manucode is distributed in lowland forests of Jobi Island and northern New Guinea. The diet consists mainly of fruits and arthropods. Like other ma ...
, ''Manucodia jobiensis''
:* Crinkle-collared manucode
The crinkle-collared manucode (''Manucodia chalybatus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The crinkle-collared manucode is found throughout lowlands and hill forests in mainland New Guinea and Misool Island of West Papua. The diet consists main ...
, ''Manucodia chalybatus''
:* Curl-crested manucode
The curl-crested manucode (''Manucodia comrii'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
Etymology
The British zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater named this species after Dr. Peter Comrie (1832-1882), who discovered the bird on Fergusson Island in 1874. ...
, ''Manucodia comrii''
genus: ''Phonygammus''
:* Trumpet manucode
The trumpet manucode (''Phonygammus keraudrenii'')'' is a species of bird in the family Paradisaeidae.
The trumpet manucode is named after its powerful and loud trumpeting calls. The Specific name (zoology), specific name, ''keraudrenii'', comme ...
, ''Phonygammus 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
The parotias are a genus, ''Parotia'', of passerine birds in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. They are endemic to New Guinea. They are also known as six-plumed birds of paradise, due to their six head quills. These birds were featured ...
''
:* Western parotia
The western or Arfak parotia (''Parotia sefilata'') is a medium-sized, approximately 33 cm long, bird-of-paradise with a medium-length tail.
Parotia comes from the Greek ''parotis'', a lock or curl of hair by the ear, alluding to the head wi ...
, ''Parotia sefilata''
:* Carola's parotia, ''Parotia carolae''
:* Bronze parotia
The bronze parotia (''Parotia berlepschi''), also known as the Foja parotia, Berlepsch's parotia or Berlepsch's six-wired bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise, in the family Bird-of-paradise, Paradisaeidae. It resembles and is often ...
, ''Parotia berlepschi''
:* Lawes's parotia, ''Parotia lawesii''
:* Eastern parotia
The eastern parotia (''Parotia helenae''), also known as Helena's parotia, is a medium-sized passerine of the bird-of-paradise family, Paradisaeidae, endemic to mountain forests of the Bird's Tail Peninsula (Papua New Guinea). It is approximatel ...
, ''Parotia helenae'' (Disputed)
:* Wahnes's parotia
Wahnes's parotia (''Parotia wahnesi'') is a medium-sized passerine of the bird-of-paradise family (Paradisaeidae). This species is distributed and endemic to the mountain forests of Huon Peninsula and Adelbert Mountains, northeast Papua New Guine ...
, ''Parotia wahnesi''
genus: ''Pteridophora''
:* King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, ''Pteridophora alberti''
genus: '' Lophorina''
:* Greater lophorina, ''Lophorina superba''
:* Crescent-caped lophorina, ''Lophorina niedda''
:* Lesser lophorina, ''Lophorina minor''
genus: '' Ptiloris''
::* Magnificent riflebird, ''Ptiloris magnificus''
::* Growling riflebird, ''Ptiloris intercedens''
::* Paradise riflebird
The paradise riflebird (''Ptiloris paradisea'') is a passerine bird of the family Paradisaeidae. It is one of four riflebird species in the genus ''Ptiloris''. It is found in subtropical, temperate rainforests in eastern Australia. The species is ...
, ''Ptiloris paradiseus''
::* Victoria's riflebird, ''Ptiloris victoriae''
genus: '' Epimachus''
:* Black sicklebill, ''Epimachus fastosus''
:* Brown sicklebill, ''Epimachus meyeri''
genus: '' Drepanornis''
:* Black-billed sicklebill, ''Drepanornis albertisi''
:* Pale-billed sicklebill, ''Drepanornis bruijnii''
genus: ''Cicinnurus''
::* King bird-of-paradise
The king bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus regius'') is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus ''Cicinnurus'', although the genus ''Diphyllodes'' is c ...
, ''Cicinnurus regius''
::* Magnificent bird-of-paradise
The magnificent bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus magnificus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise. The magnificent bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Et ...
, ''Cicinurrus magnificus/Diphyllodes magnificus''
::* Wilson's bird-of-paradise, ''Cicinnurus respublica/Diphyllodes respublica''
genus: '' Diphyllodes''
::* Magnificent bird-of-paradise
The magnificent bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus magnificus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise. The magnificent bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Et ...
, ''Diphyllodes magnificus''
::* Wilson's bird-of-paradise, ''Diphyllodes respublica''
genus: ''Semioptera''
:* Standardwing bird-of-paradise, ''Semioptera wallacii''
genus: ''Seleucidis''
:* Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise, ''Seleucidis melanoleucus''
genus: '' Paradisaea''
::* Lesser bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisaea minor''
::* Greater bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisaea apoda''
::* Raggiana bird-of-paradise
The Raggiana bird-of-paradise (''Paradisaea raggiana''), also known as Count Raggi's bird-of-paradise, is a large bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.
It is distributed widely in southern and northeastern New Guinea, where its nam ...
, ''Paradisaea raggiana''
::* Goldie's bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisaea decora''
::* Red bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisaea rubra''
::* Emperor bird-of-paradise
The emperor bird-of-paradise (''Paradisaea guilielmi''), also known as emperor of Germany's bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The emperor bird-of-paradise is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is distributed in hill forests of the ...
, ''Paradisaea guilielmi''
:genus: ''Paradisornis''
::* Blue bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisornis rudolphi''
Hybrids
Hybrid birds-of-paradise may occur when individuals of different species, that look similar and have overlapping ranges, confuse each other for their own species and crossbreed.
When Erwin Stresemann realised that hybridisation among birds-of-paradise might be an explanation as to why so many of the described species were so rare, he examined many controversial specimens and, during the 1920s and 1930s, published several papers on his hypothesis. Many of the species described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are now generally considered to be hybrids, though some are still subject to dispute; their status is not likely to be settled definitely without genetic examination of museum specimens, which will come soon in summer 2021 in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and some birds in an aviary in Central Park Zoo.
Description
Birds-of-paradise are closely related to the corvids
Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. In colloquial English, they are known as the crow family or corvids. Currently, 13 ...
. Birds-of-paradise range in size from the king bird-of-paradise
The king bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus regius'') is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus ''Cicinnurus'', although the genus ''Diphyllodes'' is c ...
at and to the curl-crested manucode
The curl-crested manucode (''Manucodia comrii'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
Etymology
The British zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater named this species after Dr. Peter Comrie (1832-1882), who discovered the bird on Fergusson Island in 1874. ...
at and . The male black sicklebill, with its long tail, is the longest species at . In most species, the tails of the males are larger and longer than the female, the differences ranging from slight to extreme. The wings are rounded and in some species structurally modified on the males in order to make sound. There is considerable variation in the family with regard to bill shape. Bills may be long and decurved, as in the sicklebills and riflebirds, or small and slim like the Astrapias. As with body size, bill size varies between the sexes, although species where the females have larger bills than the male are more common, particularly in the insect-eating species.
Plumage variation between the sexes is closely related to breeding system. The manucodes and paradise-crow, which are socially monogamous, are sexually monomorphic. So are the two species of '' Paradigalla'', which are polygamous. All these species have generally black plumage with varying amounts of green and blue iridescence. The female plumage of the dimorphic species is typically drab to blend in with their habitat, unlike the bright attractive colours found on the males. Younger males of these species have female-like plumage, and sexual maturity takes a long time, with the full adult plumage not being obtained for up to seven years. This affords the younger males the protection from predators of more subdued colours, and also reduces hostility from adult males.
Distribution and habitat
The centre of bird-of-paradise diversity
Diversity, diversify, or diverse may refer to:
Business
*Diversity (business), the inclusion of people of different identities (ethnicity, gender, age) in the workforce
*Diversity marketing, marketing communication targeting diverse customers
* ...
is the large island of New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
; all but two genera are found in New Guinea. Those other two are the monotypic genera '' Lycocorax'' and '' Semioptera'', both of which are endemic to the Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands (; Indonesian: ''Kepulauan Maluku'') or the Moluccas () are an archipelago in the east of Indonesia. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically they are located ...
, to the west of New Guinea. Of the riflebirds in the genus '' Ptiloris'', two are endemic to the coastal forests of eastern Australia, one occurs in both Australia and New Guinea, and one is only found in New Guinea. The only other genus to have a species outside New Guinea is '' Phonygammus'', one representative of which is found in the extreme north of Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
. The remaining species are restricted to New Guinea and some of the surrounding islands. Many species have very small ranges, particularly those with restricted habitat types such as mid-montane forest (like the black sicklebill) or island endemics (like the Wilson's bird-of-paradise).
The majority of birds-of-paradise live in tropical forests, including rainforest, swamps and moss forest, nearly all of them solitary tree dwellers.[Honolulu Zoo , ''Birds of Paradise'', Accessed Feb 3, 2011] Several species have been recorded in coastal mangroves. The southernmost species, the paradise riflebird
The paradise riflebird (''Ptiloris paradisea'') is a passerine bird of the family Paradisaeidae. It is one of four riflebird species in the genus ''Ptiloris''. It is found in subtropical, temperate rainforests in eastern Australia. The species is ...
of Australia, lives in sub-tropical and temperate wet forests. As a group the manucode
Manucodes are birds-of-paradise in the genus ''Manucodia'', that are medium-sized with black-glossed purple and green plumages.
The members of this genus are distributed in the lowland forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. They are monogam ...
s are the most plastic in their habitat requirements; in particular, the glossy-mantled manucode
The glossy-mantled manucode (''Manucodia ater'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The glossy-mantled manucode was the first bird of paradise encountered by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson, the first westerner to see live wild bird ...
, which inhabits both forest and open savanna woodland. Mid-montane habitats are the most commonly occupied habitat, with thirty of the forty species occurring in the 1000–2000 m altitudinal band.
Behaviour and ecology
Diet and feeding
The diet of the birds-of-paradise is dominated by fruit and arthropods, although small amounts of nectar and small vertebrates may also be taken. The ratio of the two food types varies by species, with fruit predominating in some species, and arthropods dominating the diet in others. The ratio of the two will affect other aspects of the behaviour of the species; for example, frugivorous
A frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance an ...
species tend to feed in the forest canopy, whereas insectivores may feed lower down in the middle storey. Frugivores are more social than the insectivores, which are more solitary and territorial.
Even the birds-of-paradise that are primarily insect eaters will still take large amounts of fruit. The family is overall an important seed disperser for the forests of New Guinea, as they do not digest the seeds. Species that feed on fruit will range widely searching for fruit, and while they may join other fruit-eating species at a fruiting tree, they will not associate with them otherwise and will not stay with other species for long. Fruit are eaten while perched and not from the air, and birds-of-paradise are able to use their feet as tools to manipulate and hold their food, allowing them to extract certain capsular fruit. There is some niche differentiation in fruit choice by species and any one species will only consume a limited number of fruit types compared to the large choice available. For example, the trumpet manucode
The trumpet manucode (''Phonygammus keraudrenii'')'' is a species of bird in the family Paradisaeidae.
The trumpet manucode is named after its powerful and loud trumpeting calls. The Specific name (zoology), specific name, ''keraudrenii'', comme ...
and crinkle-collared manucode
The crinkle-collared manucode (''Manucodia chalybatus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The crinkle-collared manucode is found throughout lowlands and hill forests in mainland New Guinea and Misool Island of West Papua. The diet consists main ...
will eat mostly figs, whereas the Lawes's parotia focuses mostly on berries and the greater lophorina and raggiana bird-of-paradise
The Raggiana bird-of-paradise (''Paradisaea raggiana''), also known as Count Raggi's bird-of-paradise, is a large bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.
It is distributed widely in southern and northeastern New Guinea, where its nam ...
take mostly capsular fruit.
Breeding
Most species have elaborate mating rituals, with at least eight species exhibiting lek mating
A lek is an aggregation of male animals gathered to engage in competitive displays and courtship rituals, known as lekking, to entice visiting females which are surveying prospective partners with which to mate. A lek can also indicate an avail ...
systems, including the genus ''Paradisaea''. Others, such as the '' Cicinnurus'' and ''Parotia
The parotias are a genus, ''Parotia'', of passerine birds in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae. They are endemic to New Guinea. They are also known as six-plumed birds of paradise, due to their six head quills. These birds were featured ...
'' species, have highly ritualised mating dances. Across the family (Paradisaeidae), female preference is incredibly important in shaping the courtship behaviors of males and, in fact, drives the evolution of ornamental combinations of sound, color, and behavior.[ ]
Open access
Males are polygamous
Crimes
Polygamy (from Late Greek (') "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is marrie ...
in the sexually dimorphic
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most ani ...
species, but monogamous in at least some of the monomorphic species. Hybridisation is frequent in these birds, suggesting the polygamous species of bird of paradise are very closely related despite being in different genera. Many hybrids have been described as new species in the past, and doubt remains regarding whether some forms, such as Rothschild's lobe-billed bird-of-paradise, are valid.
Birds-of-paradise build their nests from soft materials, such as leaves, ferns, and vine tendrils, typically placed in a tree fork.[ The typical number of eggs in each clutch varies among the species and is not known for every species. For larger species, it is almost always just one egg, but smaller species may produce clutches of 2–3 eggs. Eggs hatch after 16–22 days, and the young leave the nest at between 16 and 30 days of age.][
]
Relationship with humans
Societies of New Guinea often use bird-of-paradise plumes in their dress and rituals, and the plumes were popular in Europe in past centuries as adornment for ladies' millinery
Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter.
Historically, milliners, typically women shopkeepers, produced or imported an inventory of g ...
. Hunting for plumes and habitat destruction
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
have reduced some species to endangered status; habitat destruction due to deforestation
Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...
is now the predominant threat.
Best known are the members of the genus '' Paradisaea'', including the type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specime ...
, the greater bird-of-paradise, ''Paradisaea apoda''. This species was described from specimens brought back to Europe from trading expeditions in the early sixteenth century. These specimens had been prepared by native traders by removing their wings and feet so that they could be used as decorations. This was not known to the explorers, and in the absence of information many beliefs arose about them. They were briefly thought to be the mythical phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
. The often footless and wingless condition of the skins led to the belief that the birds never landed but were kept permanently aloft by their plumes. The first Europeans to encounter their skins were the voyagers in Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan ( or ; pt, Fernão de Magalhães, ; es, link=no, Fernando de Magallanes, ; 4 February 1480 – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He is best known for having planned and led the 1519 Spanish expedition to the Eas ...
's circumnavigation
Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical body (e.g. a planet or moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth.
The first recorded circumnavigation of the Earth was the Mage ...
of the Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's surfa ...
. Antonio Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta (; – c. 1531) was an Venetian scholar and explorer. He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the flag of the emperor Charles V and after Magellan's death in the Philippine Islands, ...
wrote that "The people told us that those birds came from the terrestrial paradise, and they call them bolon diuata, that is to say, 'birds of God'." This is the origin of both the name "bird of paradise" and the specific name ''apoda'' – without feet. An alternate account by Maximilianus Transylvanus
Maximilian van Sevenbergen, Latinized in Maximilianus Transylvanus (Transilvanus, Transylvanianus), also Maximilianus of Transylvania and Maximilian (Maximiliaen) von Sevenborgen (between 1485 and 1490 – 1538, Brussels), was a courtier of ...
used the term Mamuco Diata, a variant of Manucodiata, which was used as a synonym for birds-of-paradise up to the 19th century.
Birdwatching
In recent years the availability of pictures and videos about birds of paradise in the internet has raised interest of birdwatchers around the world. Many of them fly to West Papua to watch various species of birds of paradise from Wilson's Bird of Paradise (''Diphyllodes respublica'') and Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) in Raja Ampat
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested fr ...
to Lesser Birds of Paradise (''Paradisaea minor''), Magnificent Riflebird (''Ptiloris magnificus''), King Bird of Paradise (''Cicinnurus regius''), crescent-caped lophorina (''Lophorina niedda''), and Magnificent Bird of Paradise (''Diphyllodes magnificus'') in Susnguakti forest.
This activity significantly reduces the number of local villagers who are involved in the hunting of paradise birds.
Hunting
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 hundreds of years.
The naturalist, explorer and author Alfred Russel Wallace spent six years in the region, which he chronicled in ''The Malay Archipelago
''The Malay Archipelago'' is a book by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace which chronicles his scientific exploration, during the eight-year period 1854 to 1862, of the southern portion of the Malay Archipelago including Malaysia, S ...
'' (published in 1869). He shot, collected and described many specimens of animals and birds, including the great, king, twelve-wired, superb, red and six-shafted birds of paradise.
Hunting to provide plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century, but today the birds have legal protection except for hunting 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.
Other examples
* 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, designed by Susan Karike.
* The various members of the family were profiled by David Attenborough in '' Attenborough in Paradise''.
* The Indonesian Army has a Military Area Command named after "Cenderawasih", the local name for the bird.
* The plume from the bird of paradise was used in the Royal crown worn by the King of Nepal
The King of Nepal (traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja i.e. Great King of Kings; it can also be translated as "Sovereign Emperor" ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजधिराज)) was Nepal's head of state and monarch from 1768 ...
, before the establishment of a republic. Now, the crown is housed in Naraynhiti Palace Museum.
Specimen gallery
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140333 1 - Lycocorax pyrrhopterus pyrrhopterus (Bonaparte, 1851) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Halmahera Paradise-crow specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140490 2 - Phonygammus keraudrenii jamesii Sharpe, 1877 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Trumpet manucode
The trumpet manucode (''Phonygammus keraudrenii'')'' is a species of bird in the family Paradisaeidae.
The trumpet manucode is named after its powerful and loud trumpeting calls. The Specific name (zoology), specific name, ''keraudrenii'', comme ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.15362 1 - Manucodia ater ater (Lesson, 1830) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Glossy-mantled manucode
The glossy-mantled manucode (''Manucodia ater'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The glossy-mantled manucode was the first bird of paradise encountered by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson, the first westerner to see live wild bird ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140434 1 - Manucodia chalybatus Pennant, 1781 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Crinkle-collared manucode
The crinkle-collared manucode (''Manucodia chalybatus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The crinkle-collared manucode is found throughout lowlands and hill forests in mainland New Guinea and Misool Island of West Papua. The diet consists main ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140485 1 - Manucodia comrii comrii Sclater, 1876 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Curl-crested manucode
The curl-crested manucode (''Manucodia comrii'') is a species of bird-of-paradise.
Etymology
The British zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater named this species after Dr. Peter Comrie (1832-1882), who discovered the bird on Fergusson Island in 1874. ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.8858 - Diphyllodes respublica Bonaparte, 1850 - Paradisaeidae - skin specimen.jpeg, Male Wilson's bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.22800 1 - Diphyllodes respublica (Bonaparte, 1850) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Wilson's bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141014 2 - Diphyllodes magnificus subsp. - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Magnificent bird-of-paradise
The magnificent bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus magnificus'') is a species of bird-of-paradise. The magnificent bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are listed on Appendix II of CITES.
Et ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140996 1 - Diphyllodes magnificus magnificus (Pennant, 1781) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Magnificent bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140985 2 - Cicinnurus regius subsp. - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male King bird-of-paradise
The king bird-of-paradise (''Cicinnurus regius'') is a passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is considered by the IOC checklist to be the only member of the genus ''Cicinnurus'', although the genus ''Diphyllodes'' is c ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.30168 1 - Cicinnurus regius gymnorhynchus Stresemann, 1922 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female King bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140845 2 - Pteridophora alberti subsp. - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140844 1 - Pteridophora alberti subsp. - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female King-of-Saxony bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140663 1 - Seleucidis melanoleuca melanoleuca (Daudin, 1800) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140624 1 - Seleucidis melanoleuca melanoleuca (Daudin, 1800) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140690 1 - Drepanornis albertisi albertisi (Sclater, 1873) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Black-billed sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140692 1 - Drepanornis albertisi albertisi (Sclater, 1873) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Black-billed sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.16684 - Drepanornis bruijnii Oustalet, 1880 - Paradisaeidae - skin specimen.jpeg, A male Pale-billed sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140704 2 - Drepanornis bruijnii Oustalet, 1880 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Pale-billed sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140822 1 - Parotia carolae carolae A.B. Meyer, 1894 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Carola's Parotia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.28924 1 - Parotia carolae clelandiae Gilliard, 1961 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Carola's parotia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140811 1 - Parotia sefilata Pennant, 1781 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Western parotia
The western or Arfak parotia (''Parotia sefilata'') is a medium-sized, approximately 33 cm long, bird-of-paradise with a medium-length tail.
Parotia comes from the Greek ''parotis'', a lock or curl of hair by the ear, alluding to the head wi ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.22786 1 - Parotia sefilata Pennant, 1781 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Western parotia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140836 2 - Parotia lawesii lawesii (Ramsay, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Lawes's parotia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140834 1 - Parotia lawesii lawesii (Ramsay, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Lawes's parotia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140604 1 - Semioptera wallacei halmaherae Salvadori, 1881 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Standardwing bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140557 2 - Semioptera wallacei wallacei Gould, 1859 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Standardwing bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.19809 2 - Astrapia mayeri Stonor, 1939 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Ribbon-tailed astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.19814 2 - Astrapia mayeri Stonor, 1939 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Ribbon-tailed astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140743 2 - Astrapia nigra (Gmelin, 1788) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Arfak astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140739 2 - Astrapia nigra (Gmelin, 1788) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Arfak astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140788 2 - Astrapia stephaniae stephaniae (Finsch, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Stephanie's astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140792 2 - Astrapia stephaniae stephaniae (Finsch, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Stephanie's astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140752 1 - Astrapia splendidissima splendidissima Rothschild, 1895 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Splendid astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140757 2 - Astrapia splendidissima splendidissima Rothschild, 1895 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Splendid astrapia specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140523 1 - Ptiloris magnificus magnificus (Vieillot, 1819) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Magnificent riflebird specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.19115 2 - Ptiloris magnificus magnificus (Vieillot, 1819) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Magnificent riflebird specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140517 1 - Ptiloris victoriae Gould, 1850 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Victoria's riflebird specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140551 2 - Ptiloris magnificus intercedens Sharpe, 1882 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Growling riflebird specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140552 1 - Ptiloris magnificus intercedens Sharpe, 1882 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Growling riflebird specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.156870 2 - Ptiloris paradiseus Swainson, 1825 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Paradise riflebird
The paradise riflebird (''Ptiloris paradisea'') is a passerine bird of the family Paradisaeidae. It is one of four riflebird species in the genus ''Ptiloris''. It is found in subtropical, temperate rainforests in eastern Australia. The species is ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.21725 2 - Lophorina superba superba (Pennant, 1781) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Superb bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.22789 1 - Lophorina superba superba (Pennant, 1781) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Superb bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140808 1 - Lophorina superba minor Ramsay, 1885 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Lesser superb bird-of-paradise specimen, a subspecies that is occasionally considered as its own species, but its validity is disputed.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140737 2 - Epimachus meyeri meyeri Finsch, 1885 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Brown sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140735 2 - Epimachus meyeri meyeri Finsch, 1885 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Brown sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140715 2 - Epimachus fastuosus atratus (Rothschild and Hartert, 1911) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Black sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140729 1 - Epimachus fastuosus atratus (Rothschild and Hartert, 1911) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Black sicklebill specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140682 1 - Paradigalla carunculata brevicauda Rothschild and Hartert, 1911 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Short-tailed paradigalla specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.140676 1 - Paradigalla carunculata carunculata Lesson, 1835 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Long-tailed paradigalla specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141644 2 - Paradisaea minor minor Shaw, 1809 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Lesser bird-of-paradise speimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141461 2 - Paradisaea minor minor Shaw, 1809 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Lesser bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141708 2 - Paradisaea rudolphi rudolphi (Finsch, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Blue bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.1311 2 - Paradisaea rudolphi rudolphi (Finsch, 1885) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Blue bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.92300 1 - Paradisaea apoda subsp. - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Specimen of a male Greater Bird-of-paradise
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141109 2 - Paradisaea apoda novaeguineae D'Albertis and Salvadori, 1879 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Greater bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141692 2 - Paradisaea decora Salvin and Godman, 1883 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Goldie's bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141693 1 - Paradisaea decora Salvin and Godman, 1883 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Goldie's bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.62497 1 - Paradisaea rubra Daudin, 1800 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Red bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141697 2 - Paradisaea rubra Daudin, 1800 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Female Red bird-of-paradise specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141149 2 - Paradisaea apoda raggiana P.L. Sclater, 1873 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Nominate male Raggiana bird-of-paradise
The Raggiana bird-of-paradise (''Paradisaea raggiana''), also known as Count Raggi's bird-of-paradise, is a large bird in the bird-of-paradise family Paradisaeidae.
It is distributed widely in southern and northeastern New Guinea, where its nam ...
specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141452 2 - Paradisaea apoda augustaevictoriae Cabanis, 1888 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Raggiana bird-of-paradise, subspecies ''augustaevictoriae,'' specimen.
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141703 2 - Paradisaea guilielmi Cabanis, 1888 - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg, Male Emperor bird-of-paradise
The emperor bird-of-paradise (''Paradisaea guilielmi''), also known as emperor of Germany's bird-of-paradise, is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The emperor bird-of-paradise is endemic to Papua New Guinea. It is distributed in hill forests of the ...
specimen.
See also
*
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Birds-of-Paradise Project
website by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Bird-of-paradise videos and images
on the Internet Bird Collection
produced for National Geographic
Birds-of-paradise
from Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
, PhotographyAxis
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird Of Paradise
.
Taxa named by Nicholas Aylward Vigors