Bird of paradise

From Freepedia

For other uses, see Bird of paradise (disambiguation).

Birds of paradise

Image:Victorias-Riflebird.jpg
Female Victoria's Riflebird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Paradisaeidae

Genera

Seleucidis

The birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes, found in Oceania. Most of the species are found in New Guinea, and a bird of paradise is depicted on the flag of Papua New Guinea. Some scholars merge this family together with the Corvidae; despite their extravagant plumage, they are anatomically among the most primitive songbirds.

Many species of birds of paradise are known for the males' extravagant breeding plumage; the different species display a staggering number of feather forms, such as brilliant colours, long "wires," broad fans, tufted flanks, and metre-long tails. Most species have elaborate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea species having a Lek-type mating system. Others, such as the Cicinnurus and Parotia species, have highly ritualized mating dances, with Paroia species presenting ballet tutu-like display plumage in a dance that is among the most astounding behaviors of all birds due to its completely accidental, but nonetheless uncanny resemblance to hula and limbo dances.

The best known for their plumage are the species of the genus Paradisaea, including the type species, Paradisaea apoda, the Greater Bird of Paradise. 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, which led to the belief that the birds never landed but were kept permanently aloft by their plumes. This gave both the name "birds of paradise" and the specific name apoda - without feet.

The native 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 has reduced some species to endangered status. Habitat destruction due to deforestation is the predominant reason today. Hunting for their plumes for millinery was a significant factor in the late 19th and early 20th century, but as of today, they enjoy legal protection and hunting is only permitted at a sustainable level to fulfil the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population (for 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.
Traditional hunting occurs since a long time, possibly since the begin 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.

Due to the peculiarities of their mating system, birds of paradise are among the birds where hybrids most frequently occur, together with ducks and hummingbirds, which both also have highly ornamental plumage in males and often form groups for mating purposes.