Bird Of Paradise: Information And Characteristics
The Bird of Paradise is the name given to a family of birds that have fascinated mankind for centuries. The Paradisaeidae , its scientific term, are brightly colored birds that are related to crows.
There are 43 species of Birds of Paradise, many of them with very striking plumage. This bird was first known in Europe when Magellan brought it back from his voyages of exploration in the 16th century.
Physical appearance and general characteristics
In general, the plumage of the Bird of Paradise is yellow, blue, scarlet or green. However, their shades vary depending on the geographical area they inhabit. Due to their brilliance, these birds are considered some of the most striking and dramatic in the world.
The male Bird of Paradise usually sports more vibrant and elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. This characteristic has been developed as part of the mating ritual, in which the most striking males attract the best females.
In addition to their streamers, males also have striking plumes on their heads or chests. In contrast, the female Bird of Paradise, although brightly colored, is significantly less conspicuous.
A striking feature of these birds is that they are usually isolated creatures. They prefer to live alone and only spend time with other birds at the time of mating.
Likewise, the Birds of Paradise have a unique behavior: they usually do stunts. They can swing on one leg and hang upside down. In addition, they perform these movements at any time of the year, regardless of whether it is mating season or not. For this reason, scientists have not been able to deduce what role such movements have for these species. Some animal lovers have suggested that they make them for fun.
Habitat of the Bird of Paradise
These striking birds are endogenous to New Guinea, an extremely mountainous island located in the equatorial region. This island has a tropical climate near the beaches, but a cool and even cold climate in the mountains. This has allowed a unique fauna and flora to develop on the island.
Due to the climatic conditions of the island – which vary depending on its location with respect to the wind and its distance from the sea, as well as its altitude – different habitats have developed. Thus, the Birds of Paradise of New Guinea have evolved in different ways depending on the region of the island they inhabit.
For example, the Bird Crespada del Paraíso species can only be found in the upper montane forest. Likewise, the Trumpet Manicure is found near the lowland forests and lower mountains.
Interestingly, some species of Bird of Paradise can also be found in Australia. These birds came to the island through animal dealers and traders of furs and exotic objects.
Conservation
The exact number of the Birds of Paradise population is not known. However, many experts claim that the Paradisaeidae have begun to become extinct due to climate change and the indiscriminate hunting they suffer.
Many areas of New Guinea are being deforested for construction purposes or large-scale agriculture. Unfortunately for the Bird of Paradise, its natural habitats are declining. This forces the beautiful birds to fly and try to make nests in areas that are not entirely favorable to them.
The new proposals for ecological preservation have faced different challenges: how to find a balance between the ecological reserve and the economic advancement of a nation? The indigenous peoples of New Guinea are struggling to keep vast areas of rainforest intact. This is an effort with a view to conserving the island’s animal and plant diversity.
Food and predators
The Bird of Paradise feeds mainly on fruits and berries. However, some species can also consume spiders and other small insects.
A Bird of Paradise can take many hours to get food. For this reason, although they are small birds, they will eat much more food than they need if they get it in abundance.
The two most important predators of the Birds of Paradise are humans and other larger birds. Humans have hunted paradisaeidae for centuries for their shiny feathers.
Larger birds, on the other hand, see easy prey to hunt in Birds of Paradise. It is evident that the Bird of Paradise is very easy to distinguish and capture due to the contrast of its colors with the green of the jungle.
Birds of Paradise are especially vulnerable during breeding periods. It is at this time that a male displays his feathers through various dances to attract females. Many of these displays last for long hours, giving predators an opportunity to locate males.
After mating, a Bird of Paradise will lay two to three eggs. After only 20 days, the new chicks will hatch. Unfortunately, this species is still in danger of extinction.
If you want to see this species in all its splendor, New Guinea offers you beautiful landscapes full of curious flora and fauna.
