Forty-four species of rainforest birds, mainly from New Guinea, plus eastern Australia and the Maluku Islands. Males of most species have spectacular plumes and colours, and some perform highly ritualised mating dances.
Quick answers
What is it?Bird
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inAustralia, Asia, New Guinea
HabitatRainforest
ColoursBlack, Yellow, Blue
SizeSmall
Length15 cm to 110 cm with tail (black sicklebill)
Weight50–430 g
Legs2
Covered inFeathers
Lives alone
Lives for5–20 years
Can fly
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Mainly New Guinea, plus eastern Australia and the Maluku Islands.
- What it eats
- Mostly fruit, plus some insects and other arthropods.
Did you know
Males of some species perform elaborate, ritualised dances to win a mate.
A plume from the greater bird-of-paradise decorated the royal crown of Nepal.
Some species can absorb light and re-emit it at wavelengths visible to other birds.
Often confused with
On these lists
Sources
Last reviewed
Play
Could you have guessed it?
A photo, a few hints, one guess. Same 438 animals.
