What is a bird-of-paradise?

The bird-of-paradise is any of about 45 species of small to medium-sized forest birds in the family Paradisaeidae. These birds live in New Guinea and nearby islands; manucodes and riflebirds also occur in Australia. Male birds-of-paradise are known for their colourful and bizarre plumage. To attract mates, they perform courtship displays for hours on a perch or cleared space. After mating, the plain-coloured females build nests and raise one or two young without help from the male.

Where do birds-of-paradise live?

Birds-of-paradise are forest birds that live in the highlands of New Guinea and on nearby islands. Manucodes and riflebirds, which are species of birds-of-paradise, can also be found in Australia . The greater bird-of-paradise has been introduced to the island of Little Tobago, in Trinidad and Tobago . These birds are known for the colourful and bizarre plumage of the males, who perform elaborate courtship displays. After mating, the females build the nest and raise the young on their own.

What do birds-of-paradise look like?

The birds-of-paradise are forest birds of small to medium size, found in New Guinea's highlands and nearby islands, with some species, like manucodes and riflebirds, also inhabiting Australia. What makes them stand out is the males' vibrant colors and odd plumage, which are almost unmatched among birds, except for a few pheasants and hummingbirds . These birds come in a variety of types, such as the plumebirds with their elongated tail feathers, the flagbirds with head wires, and the long-tailed birds-of-paradise with their iridescent ruffs. The superb bird-of-paradise has a breast shield and head-fan, while the magnificent and Wilson’s birds-of-paradise feature capes and wirelike tail feathers. Sexual dimorphism is evident in birds-of-paradise, where males boast exotic plumes and colors for sexual selection, while females have cryptic coloring for nesting.

Why are birds-of-paradise famous for their feathers?

Birds-of-paradise are renowned for the extravagant and colourful plumage displayed by the males. These remarkable feathers play a crucial role in courtship rituals, where males perform elaborate displays to attract females. Sexual selection has driven the evolution of these exotic plumes and colours in male birds-of-paradise. The variations in colours, patterns, and textures of passerine feathers are considered important taxonomic characters. These specialized feathers include iridescent gorgets, velvety ruffs, and filamentous plumes. The brightness of a male's coloration can indicate his fitness, influencing female choice and intensifying sexual selection.

How do male birds-of-paradise attract mates?

Male birds-of-paradise attract mates through elaborate courtship rituals and displays. They perform for hours on a chosen perch or in a cleared space on the forest floor, also known as a lek. These communal displays can be incredibly bizarre. Visual and auditory stimuli are key during courtship. Males, often brightly colored, may engage in communal displays on a common courtship ground. Examples include the bizarre communal dances of the birds-of-paradise. Some species also learn courtship displays, such as birdsongs, from their parents. After mating, the plain-colored females typically build the nest and raise the one or two young without male assistance.

What threats do birds-of-paradise face in the wild?

Birds-of-paradise face significant threats in the wild, primarily stemming from human activities. Habitat loss and degradation, driven by commercial agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development, pose a major risk. These activities diminish the availability of suitable environments for these birds. Beyond habitat destruction, unsustainable hunting and the pet trade contribute to population declines by overharvesting these birds. Introduced species and global warming also exacerbate the threats birds-of-paradise face. Conservation efforts involve protecting and managing habitats, controlling fire regimes, and preventing the introduction of new threats.

Bird-of-paradise

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Images

Illustration of a greater bird-of-paradise, Paradisaea apoda, perched on a branch, showing its vibrant reddish-brown body, yellow head, green throat, and long, flowing yellow and pink tail feathers.

A Lesser Bird of Paradise, Paradisaea minor, with vibrant yellow, brown, and green plumage and long tail feathers, perched on a branch amid green leaves.

Illustration of a King of Saxony's bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti) perched on a mossy branch, featuring black and golden plumage with two long, ornate blue and brown head plumes extending far beyond its body.

Magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus).

Quick Facts

Related Topics:: manucode; plumebird; flagbird; riflebird; Astrapia

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Bird-of-paradise

bird

Also known as: Paradisaeidae

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is a bird-of-paradise?
The bird-of-paradise is any of about 45 species of small to medium-sized forest birds in the family Paradisaeidae. These birds live in New Guinea and nearby islands; manucodes and riflebirds also occur in Australia.

Male birds-of-paradise are known for their colourful and bizarre plumage. To attract mates, they perform courtship displays for hours on a perch or cleared space. After mating, the plain-coloured females build nests and raise one or two young without help from the male.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do birds-of-paradise live?
Birds-of-paradise are forest birds that live in the highlands of New Guinea and on nearby islands. Manucodes and riflebirds, which are species of birds-of-paradise, can also be found in Australia. The greater bird-of-paradise has been introduced to the island of Little Tobago, in Trinidad and Tobago.

These birds are known for the colourful and bizarre plumage of the males, who perform elaborate courtship displays. After mating, the females build the nest and raise the young on their own.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do birds-of-paradise look like?
The birds-of-paradise are forest birds of small to medium size, found in New Guinea's highlands and nearby islands, with some species, like manucodes and riflebirds, also inhabiting Australia.

What makes them stand out is the males' vibrant colors and odd plumage, which are almost unmatched among birds, except for a few pheasants and hummingbirds. These birds come in a variety of types, such as the plumebirds with their elongated tail feathers, the flagbirds with head wires, and the long-tailed birds-of-paradise with their iridescent ruffs. The superb bird-of-paradise has a breast shield and head-fan, while the magnificent and Wilson’s birds-of-paradise feature capes and wirelike tail feathers.

Sexual dimorphism is evident in birds-of-paradise, where males boast exotic plumes and colors for sexual selection, while females have cryptic coloring for nesting.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why are birds-of-paradise famous for their feathers?
Birds-of-paradise are renowned for the extravagant and colourful plumage displayed by the males. These remarkable feathers play a crucial role in courtship rituals, where males perform elaborate displays to attract females.

Sexual selection has driven the evolution of these exotic plumes and colours in male birds-of-paradise. The variations in colours, patterns, and textures of passerine feathers are considered important taxonomic characters. These specialized feathers include iridescent gorgets, velvety ruffs, and filamentous plumes. The brightness of a male's coloration can indicate his fitness, influencing female choice and intensifying sexual selection.
4 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do male birds-of-paradise attract mates?
Male birds-of-paradise attract mates through elaborate courtship rituals and displays. They perform for hours on a chosen perch or in a cleared space on the forest floor, also known as a lek. These communal displays can be incredibly bizarre.

Visual and auditory stimuli are key during courtship. Males, often brightly colored, may engage in communal displays on a common courtship ground. Examples include the bizarre communal dances of the birds-of-paradise. Some species also learn courtship displays, such as birdsongs, from their parents. After mating, the plain-colored females typically build the nest and raise the one or two young without male assistance.
6 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What threats do birds-of-paradise face in the wild?
Birds-of-paradise face significant threats in the wild, primarily stemming from human activities. Habitat loss and degradation, driven by commercial agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development, pose a major risk. These activities diminish the availability of suitable environments for these birds.

Beyond habitat destruction, unsustainable hunting and the pet trade contribute to population declines by overharvesting these birds. Introduced species and global warming also exacerbate the threats birds-of-paradise face. Conservation efforts involve protecting and managing habitats, controlling fire regimes, and preventing the introduction of new threats.
2 Britannica Sources
1. endangered species: Human beings and endangered species
2. conservation: Fire control
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Bird-of-paradise, (family Paradisaeidae), any of approximately 45 species of small to medium-sized forest birds (order Passeriformes). They are rivalled only by a few pheasants and hummingbirds in colour and in the bizarre shape of the males’ plumage. Courting males perform for hours on a chosen perch or in a cleared space (see lek) on the forest floor. After mating, the plain females generally make the nest and raise the one or two young unaided.

Birds-of-paradise occur in New Guinea highlands and on nearby islands; species called manucodes and riflebirds are found also in Australia. The largest manucode is the 45-cm (17.5-inch) curl-crested manucode (Manucodia comrii). The trumpetbird (Phonygammus keraudrenii) is 25 to 32 cm (10 to 12.5 inches) long and has head tufts as well as pointed neck feathers. It is named for the male’s loud call. Others having special names include sicklebills and standardwings.

Among the most notable birds-of-paradise are the plumebirds—the seven species of Paradisaea, 29 to 46 cm (11.5 to 18 inches) long. Their central tail feathers are elongated as wires or twisted narrow ribbons, and their filmy flank plumes can be raised and brought forward over the back, hiding the wings. The greater bird-of-paradise (P. apoda) has been introduced into the island of Little Tobago, in Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela.

pigeon. pigeon and dove. member of the order Columbiformes, family Columbidae

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The 12-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca, sometimes S. ignotus) is a short-tailed, 33-cm bird with flank plumes elaborated as forward-curving wires.

Grouped as flagbirds are the six-plumed birds-of-paradise—the four species of Parotia—and the King of Saxony’s bird-of-paradise (Pteridophora alberti). The former have elaborate flank plumes as well as six flag-tipped wires projecting back from the head; the latter has a shoulder-cape and a pair of long head-streamers composed of about 40 squarish lobes with an enameled appearance.

The superb bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) has a spreading breast shield and a broad cape that turns into a head-fan. The magnificent bird-of-paradise (Diphyllodes magnificus) and Wilson’s bird-of-paradise (D. respublica) are caped and have two wirelike tail feathers curving outward; in Wilson’s the crown is bare and has a “cross of Christ” pattern. The king bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus regius), only 13 to 17 cm long, has similar but flag-tipped tailwires and fanlike side plumes.

In the five species of long-tailed birds-of-paradise (Astrapia), males are shining black, sometimes with iridescent ruffs, and have long graduated tails of broad black or black-and-white feathers; total length may be 80 to 115 cm.

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The other “paradise” birds are far less colourful. Among them are the sickle-crested, or mocha-breasted, bird-of-paradise (Cnemophilus macgregorii); the wattle-billed, or golden-silky, bird-of-paradise (Loboparadisea sericea); and Loria’s, or Lady Macgregor’s, bird-of-paradise (Loria loriae)—three species formerly classified as bowerbirds.

Riflebirds are three species of the genus Ptiloris, named perhaps for resemblance of the males’ plumage to an early-day British rifleman’s uniform. The name has also been attributed to the calls of Queen Victoria’s riflebird (P. victoriae) and the paradise riflebird (P. paradiseus)—prolonged hisses, like the passage of bullets through the air.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Mic Anderson.

Bird-of-paradise

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