Bird of Paradise - Definition and Overview

For the flowering plant of this name, see Strelitzia.

Birds of paradise
Female Victoria's Riflebird
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Paradisaeidae
Genera
Cicinnurus Diphyllodes Epimachus Lophorina Manucodia Paradisaea Parotia Ptiloris 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.

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.

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. Predation for plumes and habitat destruction has reduced some species to endangered status.

Because of relentless hunting for their plumes, most species are vulnerable or endangered, several critically so.

• ORDER PASSERIFORMES
  • (many other families)
  • Family Paradisaeidae
    • Loria's Bird-of-paradise Cnemophilus loriae
    • Crested Bird-of-paradise Cnemophilus macgregorii
    • Yellow-breasted Bird-of-paradise Loboparadisea sericea
    • Macgregor's Bird-of-paradise Macgregoria pulchra
    • Paradise-crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus
    • Glossy-mantled Manucode Manucodia atra
    • Jobi Manucode Manucodia jobiensis
    • Crinkle-collared Manucode Manucodia chalybata
    • Curl-crested Manucode Manucodia comrii
    • Trumpet Manucode Manucodia keraudrenii
    • Long-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla carunculata
    • Short-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla brevicauda
    • Arfak Astrapia Astrapia nigra
    • Splendid Astrapia Astrapia splendidissima
    • Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Astrapia mayeri
    • Princess Stephanie's Astrapia Astrapia stephaniae
    • Huon Astrapia Astrapia rothschildi
    • Western Parotia Parotia sefilata
    • Carola's Parotia Parotia carolae
    • Lawes' Parotia Parotia lawesii
    • Wahnes' Parotia Parotia wahnesi
    • King-of-Saxony Bird-of-paradise Pteridophora alberti
    • Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus
    • Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseus
    • Victoria's Riflebird Ptiloris victoriae
    • Superb Bird-of-paradise Lophorina superba
    • Black Sicklebill Epimachus fastuosus
    • Brown Sicklebill Epimachus meyeri
    • Black-billed Sicklebill Epimachus albertisi
    • Pale-billed Sicklebill Epimachus bruijnii
    • Magnificent Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus magnificus
    • Wilson's Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus respublica
    • King Bird-of-paradise Cicinnurus regius
    • Wallace's Standardwing Semioptera wallacii
    • Twelve-wired Bird-of-paradise Seleucidis melanoleuca
    • 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
    • Blue Bird-of-paradise Paradisaea rudolphi
    • Lesser Melampitta Melampitta lugubris
    • Greater Melampitta Melampitta gigantea