Birds of Paradise | The Bird

Is THAT really a bird? Birds of paradise belong to the family Paradisaeidae and are found in New Guinea and its surrounding islands. The spectacular male birds of paradise have elaborate courtship displays and brilliantly colored/patterned plumage. This bird group represents the pinnacle of bird adaptation in response to competition for mates. I sometimes have to look carefully to actually make out the bird behind all those feathers when I see pictures!

There are more than three dozen bird of paradise species and most are distinguished by striking plumage in bright hues of yellow, blue, red, and green. These brilliant feather colors make them one of the most dramatic and attractive birds in the world. The males often have elaborate ruffs or narrow (elongated) feathers. All this beauty is reserved for males only however, the females are usually drab brown in contrast.

I have included many photos and videos on this lens in tribute to these amazing birds!