 Bird of paradise is the common name for about 42 species of colorful passerine birds common to New Guinea, nearby islands, and northeast Australia. They live mainly on insects and fruit. Noted for their bright plumage and long tail, or wires, they are sexually dimorphic and usually polygamous. During the breeding season the male usually shows full expression of its colorful plumage to the female, who is drab in color; the male's courtship ritual usually includes fluffing out its feathers, prancing, and bowing. The female alone incubates the eggs.
The greater bird of paradise, Paradisaea apoda, is found in New Guinea and the Aru Islands of Indonesia. The male, in full plumage, has a black breast, yellow head and nape, and chestnut tail, wing feathers, and belly. Its long feathers, separated by barbs, are bright orange-yellow, with red shade near the extremities; the bird can gracefully curve these feathers or press them to its body. The hen has no long feathers and is dull in color. The scarlet red king bird of paradise, Cicinnurus regius, is the smallest in the family. It is only 15 cm (6 in) long, with blue legs, green plumes, and white underparts. |
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