RIBBON-TAILED ASTRAPIA (Astrapia mayeri): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
VICTORIA'S RIFLEBIRD (Ptiloris victoriae): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
KING BIRD OF PARADISE (Cicinnurus regius): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Birds of paradise are known for their bright and beautiful plumage and unique ornamental tail and head feathers. Males are almost universally more colorful than their female counterparts. Most species have a hooked bill that they use to extract insects from dead wood and tree bark. Sizes range from 6.3 to 43.3 inches (16 to 110 centimeters) in length and 0.11 to 1 pound (50 to 450 grams) in weight.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Eastern Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea and surrounding islands.
HABITAT
The majority of Paradisaeidae species live in the rainforest, ranging from high altitude sub-alpine to lowland; however, one species, the glossy-mantled manucodes, inhabits savanna (or tropical grassland) woodlands as well as rainforest.
DIET
Birds of paradise eat fruits and insects.
BIRDS OF PARADISE AND PEOPLE
Many people seek out members of the Paradisaeidae family to witness their elaborate courtship rituals and enjoy their beautiful plumage. Some native New Guinea tribes wear the highly prized feathers of some of the more colorful species.
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