Bird-of-paradise

The family Paradisaeidae is introduced (as Paradiseidae) in 1825 with Paradisaea as the type genus by the English naturalist William Swainson. For many years the birds-of-paradise were treated as being closely related to the bowerbirds. Today while both are treated as being part of the Australasian lineage Corvida, the two are now thought to be only distantly related. The closest evolutionary relatives of the birds-of-paradise are the crow and jay family Corvidae, the monarch flycatchers Monarchidae, and the Australian mudnesters Struthideidae. The exact limits of the family have been the subject of revision as well. The three species of satinbird (the genera Cnemophilus and Loboparadisea) were treated as a subfamily of the birds-of-paradise, Cnemophilinae. In spite of differences in the mouth, foot morphology, and nesting habits they remained in the family until a 2000 study moved them to a separate family closer to the berrypeckers and longbills (Melanocharitidae). The same study found that the Macgregor's bird-of-paradise was actually a member of the large Australasian honeyeater family. In addition to these three species, a number of systematically enigmatic species and genera have been considered potential members of this family. The two species of melampitta, also from New Guinea, have been linked with the birds-of-paradise, but their relationships remain uncertain, more recently being linked with the Australian mudnesters. Phylogeny A genus level phylogeny of the family has been determined by Martin Irestedt and collaborators. }} Species genus: Lycocorax :*Halmahera paradise-crow, Lycocorax pyrrhopterus :*Obi paradise-crow, Lycocorax obiensis genus: Manucodia :* Glossy-mantled manucode, Manucodia ater :* Jobi manucode, Manucodia jobiensis :* Crinkle-collared manucode, Manucodia chalybatus :* Curl-crested manucode, Manucodia comrii genus: Phonygammus :* Trumpet manucode, Phonygammus keraudrenii genus: Paradigalla :* Long-tailed paradigalla, Paradigalla carunculata :* Short-tailed paradigalla, Paradigalla brevicauda genus: Astrapia :* Arfak astrapia, Astrapia nigra :* Splendid astrapia, Astrapia splendidissima :* Ribbon-tailed astrapia, Astrapia mayeri :* Stephanie's astrapia, Astrapia stephaniae :* Huon astrapia, Astrapia rothschildi genus: Parotia :* Western parotia, Parotia sefilata :* Carola's parotia, Parotia carolae :* Bronze parotia, Parotia berlepschi :* Lawes's parotia, Parotia lawesii :* Eastern parotia, Parotia helenae (Disputed) :* Wahnes's parotia, Parotia wahnesi genus: Pteridophora :* King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, Pteridophora alberti genus: Lophorina :* Greater lophorina, Lophorina latipennis :* Vogelkop lophorina, Lophorina superba :* Lesser lophorina, Lophorina minor genus: Ptiloris ::* Magnificent riflebird, Ptiloris magnificus ::* Growling riflebird, Ptiloris intercedens ::* Paradise riflebird, Ptiloris paradiseus ::* Victoria's riflebird, Ptiloris victoriae genus: Epimachus :* Black sicklebill, Epimachus fastosus :* Brown sicklebill, Epimachus meyeri genus: Drepanornis :* Black-billed sicklebill, Drepanornis albertisi :* Pale-billed sicklebill, Drepanornis bruijnii genus: Cicinnurus ::* King bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus regius ::* Magnificent bird-of-paradise, Cicinurrus magnificus/Diphyllodes magnificus ::* Wilson's bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus respublica/Diphyllodes respublica genus: Diphyllodes ::* Magnificent bird-of-paradise, Diphyllodes magnificus ::* Wilson's bird-of-paradise, Diphyllodes respublica genus: Semioptera :* Standardwing bird-of-paradise, Semioptera wallacii genus: Seleucidis :* Twelve-wired bird-of-paradise, Seleucidis melanoleucus genus: Paradisaea ::* Lesser bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea minor ::* Greater bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea apoda ::* Raggiana bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea raggiana ::* Goldie's bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea decora ::* Red bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea rubra ::* Emperor bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea guilielmi :genus: Paradisornis ::* Blue bird-of-paradise, Paradisornis rudolphi Hybrids Hybrid birds-of-paradise may occur when individuals of different species, that look similar and have overlapping ranges, confuse each other for their own species and crossbreed. When Erwin Stresemann realised that hybridisation among birds-of-paradise might be an explanation as to why so many of the described species were so rare, he examined many controversial specimens and, during the 1920s and 1930s, published several papers on his hypothesis. Many of the species described in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are now generally considered to be hybrids, though some are still subject to dispute; their status is not likely to be settled definitely without genetic examination of museum specimens, which will come soon in summer 2021 in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and some birds in an aviary in Central Park Zoo. ==Description==

have decurved bills. Birds-of-paradise are closely related to the corvids. Birds-of-paradise range in size from the king bird-of-paradise at and to the curl-crested manucode at and . The male black sicklebill, with its long tail, is the longest species at . In most species, the tails of the males are larger and longer than those of the females, the differences ranging from slight to extreme. The wings are rounded and, in some species, structurally modified on the males in order to make sound. There is considerable variation in the family with regard to bill shape. Bills may be long and decurved, as in the sicklebills and riflebirds, or small and slim like the Astrapias. As with body size, bill size varies between the sexes, although species where the females have larger bills than the males are more common, particularly in the insect-eating species. Plumage variation between the sexes is closely related to the breeding system. The manucodes and paradise-crow, which are socially monogamous, are sexually monomorphic. So are the two species of Paradigalla, which are polygamous. All these species have generally black plumage with varying amounts of green and blue iridescence. The female plumage of the dimorphic species is typically drab to blend in with their habitat, unlike the bright attractive colours found on the males. Younger males of these species have female-like plumage, and sexual maturity takes a long time, with the full adult plumage not being obtained for up to seven years. This affords the younger males protection from predators of more subdued colours and also reduces hostility from adult males. ==Distribution and habitat==

The centre of bird-of-paradise diversity is the large island of New Guinea; all but two genera are found in New Guinea and Australia. Those other two are the monotypic genera Lycocorax and Semioptera, both of which are endemic to the Maluku Islands, to the west of New Guinea. Of the four riflebirds in the genus Ptiloris, two are endemic to the coastal forests of eastern Australia, one occurs in both Australia and New Guinea, and one is only found in New Guinea. The only other genus to have a species outside New Guinea is Phonygammus, one representative of which is found in the extreme north of Queensland. The remaining species are restricted to New Guinea and some of the surrounding islands. Many species have very small ranges, particularly those with restricted habitat types such as mid-montane forest (like the black sicklebill) or island endemics (like the Wilson's bird-of-paradise). Several species have been recorded in coastal mangroves. Mid-montane habitats are the most commonly occupied habitat, with thirty of the forty species occurring in the altitudinal band. ==Behaviour and ecology==

Diet and feeding '' are an important part of the diet of the ribbon-tailed astrapia. The diet of the birds-of-paradise is dominated by fruit and arthropods, although small amounts of nectar and small vertebrates may also be taken. The ratio of the two food types varies by species, with fruit predominating in some species, and arthropods dominating the diet in others. The ratio of the two will affect other aspects of the behaviour of the species; for example, frugivorous species tend to feed in the forest canopy, whereas insectivores may feed lower down in the middle storey. Frugivores are more social than the insectivores, which are more solitary and territorial. including the genus Paradisaea. Others, such as the Cicinnurus and Parotia species, have highly ritualised mating dances. Across the family (Paradisaeidae), female preference is incredibly important in shaping the courtship behaviors of males and, in fact, drives the evolution of ornamental combinations of sound, color, and behavior. Males are polygamous in the sexually dimorphic species, but monogamous in at least some of the monomorphic species. Hybridisation is frequent in these birds, suggesting the polygamous species of bird of paradise are very closely related despite being in different genera. Many hybrids have been described as new species in the past, and doubt remains regarding whether some forms, such as Rothschild's lobe-billed bird-of-paradise, are valid. Birds-of-paradise build their nests from soft materials, such as leaves, ferns, and vine tendrils, typically placed in a tree fork. Eggs hatch after 16–22 days, and the young leave the nest at between 16 and 30 days of age. ==Relationship with humans==

Societies of New Guinea often use bird-of-paradise plumes in their dress and rituals, and the plumes were popular in Europe in past centuries as adornment for ladies' millinery. Hunting for plumes and habitat destruction have reduced some species to endangered status; habitat destruction due to deforestation is now the predominant threat. Antonio Pigafetta wrote that "The people told us that those birds came from the terrestrial paradise, and they call them bolon diuata, that is to say, 'birds of God'." This is the origin of both the name "bird of paradise" and the specific name apoda – without feet. An alternate account by Maximilianus Transylvanus used the term Mamuco Diata, a variant of Manucodiata, which was used as a synonym for birds-of-paradise up to the 19th century. Birdwatching In recent years the availability of pictures and videos about birds of paradise on the internet has raised the interest of birdwatchers around the world. Many of them fly to West Papua to watch various species of birds of paradise from Wilson's bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes respublica) and red bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra) in Raja Ampat to lesser bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea minor), magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus), king bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus regius), Vogelkop lophorina (Lophorina niedda), and magnificent bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus) in Susnguakti forest. This activity significantly reduces the number of local villagers who are involved in the hunting of paradise birds. Hunting Hunting of birds of paradise has occurred for a long time, possibly since the beginning 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 to maintaining population levels in the face of hunting pressures, which have probably been present for hundreds of years. The naturalist, explorer, and author Alfred Russel Wallace spent six years in the region, which he chronicled in The Malay Archipelago (published in 1869). His expedition team shot, collected, and described many specimens of animals and birds, including the great, king, twelve-wired, superb, red, and six-shafted birds of paradise. Hunting to provide plumes for the millinery trade was extensive in the late 19th and early 20th century, but today the birds have legal protection except for hunting at a sustainable level to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the local tribal population. In the case of Pteridophora plumes, scavenging from old bowerbird bowers is encouraged. Other examples • The southern hemisphere constellation Apus represents a bird-of-paradise. • An adult-plumaged male bird-of-paradise is depicted on the flag of Papua New Guinea, designed by Susan Karike. • The various members of the family were profiled by David Attenborough in Attenborough in Paradise. • The Indonesian Army has a Military Area Command named after "Cenderawasih", the local name for the bird. • The plume from the bird of paradise was used in Shripech, the royal crown worn by the King of Nepal, before the establishment of a republic. Now, the crown is housed in Naraynhiti Palace Museum. ==See also==