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Organism Fact Sheet
Birds of Paradise
Photo by Bruce Beehler
Name: Birds of Paradise
Scientific name of family: Paradisaeidae
Short description: 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.
Size: 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]
Closest Relatives: 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.
Range: 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.
Habitat: Almost all Birds of Paradise require humid forest to live. Most are also restricted to an elevation
range, such as lowland, midmontane, upper montane, or subalpine.
Diet: 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.
Predators: The most important predators of Birds of Paradise are snakes, hawks, and owls.
Interesting adaptations: 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. 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.
Song: 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.
Reproduction: 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). Nest building, incubation, and feeding of young are
accomplished entirely by the female.
In other species, particularly those 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.
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.
Threats: The greatest threat to the Birds of Paradise is destruction of their forest habitats, through
logging, subsistence agriculture, and population growth and development. While none of the Birds of
Paradise are currently endangered, habitat destruction could become a problem. In addition, many
species of Birds of Paradise have very small ranges, placing them at particular risk.
Fortunately, trade in Bird of Paradise plumes, which peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
did not drive any of these species to extinction. This is possibly due to the fact that most species that
were targeted for the plume trade were lek-forming species, where only males have the beautiful
plumage, leaving behind additional males that had less competition to mate with the females.
Cultural importance: 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. Because local preparation of the skins involved removing the
feet and wings, early European naturalists who managed to lay their hands on specimens were
convinced that Birds of Paradise had no limbs and floated in the air.
Reference: Frith and Beehler, 1998