Birds of Paradise Explained

Birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae. They live mainly in New Guinea, eastern Australia, and the Maluku Islands.

A 2009 study estimated the family emerged 24 million years ago. Their closest relatives are crows and monarch flycatchers.

Males grow long feathers from the beak, wings, tail, or head. The black sicklebill reaches 110 cm. That is a lot of conditioner.

30 of the 40 species occupy mid-montane forests between 1,000 and 2,000 m altitude. They eat fruit while perched.

Some males have structurally modified wings that make sound during courtship.

Early traders removed feet and wings from skins for decoration. Europeans thought they never landed. Taxonomy took the rumor literally.

Native traders removed their feet for decoration.

The long tail feather of the Greater bird-of-paradise decorates the Shripech, the royal crown.