The Birds of Paradise Paradisaeidae

by Frith, Clifford B.; Beehler, Bruce M.

• ISBN13: 9780198548539
• ISBN10: 0198548532
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-09-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Birds of paradise have long played a central role in the mythologies, ceremonies, dress and dance of the peoples of New Guinea and its neighbouring islands. For the few centuries that these magnificent birds have been known outside of Australasia, their striking nuptial plumages and elaboratecourtship rituals have captured the imagination of collectors, scientists, and naturalists throughout the world. The first part of the book provides a comprehensive and scientifically accurate overview of the biology, ecology, and history of the group, written so as to be interesting and accessibleto the lay-reader as well as the scientist. The authors' intimate observations of the birds have enabled them to describe for the first time how the extravagant tails and plumage are used in courtship and mating as well as to describe their nesting biology, about which little has been writtenpreviously. The role of the birds of paradise in human culture and tradition is explored in chapter 7, and a final chapter discusses issues of conservation and threats to the survival of these unique and beautiful birds. The second part of the book consists of species accounts of the 42 species ofbirds of paradise, describing their plumage, size, habitat, distribution, and behaviour in detail and accompanied by distribution maps and sonograms. 12 superb colour plates by William T. Cooper, one of the world's most acclaimed bird artists, illustrate all the species, their known hybrids, andmany juveniles and sub-species. His original fine line provide a vivid record of how the birds use their famous ornaments during reproductive behaviour. As with the other books in the Oxford Bird Families of the World series, the Birds of Paradise is written by authors who have dedicated much oftheir professional lives to researching the birds and observing them at first hand. It includes previously unpublished material and provides a synthesis of the huge literature that has been published over the last few years. As such it will be the most comprehensive review ever to be published onthe birds of paradise, the most ornate and interesting group of birds on earth. Nothing comparable exists in print.

Table of Contents

List of colour plates	xvi	(1)
List of abbreviations	xvii	(2)
Plan of the book	xix	(6)
Diagrams of brd topography	xxv	(1)
Diagrams of bird of paradise structural morphology	xxv	(1)
Map showing some more important locations mntioned in the text	xxviii	(2)
Boundaries of the regional maps used in the species accounts of Chapter 9	xxx
PART I General chapters	3	(26)
1 The incredible birds of paradise-an introduction	3	(26)
2 Discovery of the birds of paradise and history of thir study	29	(18)
3 Evolution and biogeography of the birds of paradise	47	(31)
4 Ecology of the birds of paradise	78	(24)
5 Reproductive behaviour	102	(21)
6 Nesting biology and parental care	123	(20)
7 Birds of paradise in human tradition and culture	143	(11)
8 Conservation	154	(15)
PART III Family, subfamily, genus, and species accounts	169	(330)
9 Family PARADISAEIDAE 42 Species in 17 genera	171	(328)
Subfamily Cnemophilinae 3 Species in 2 genera	174	(1)
Genus Cnemophilus	175	(14)
(Subgenus Loria)	176	(1)
Loria's Bird of Paradise Cnemophilus loriae	176	(7)
(Subgenus Cnemophilus)	183	(1)
Crested Bird of Paradise Cnemophilus macgregori	183	(6)
Genius Loboparadisea	189	(6)
Yellow-breaseted Bird of Paradise Lobparadisea sericea	190	(5)
Subfamily Paradisaeinae 39 spcies in 15 genera	195	(2)
Genus Macgregoria	197	(7)
Macgregor's Bird of Paradise Macgregoria pulchra	198	(6)
Genus Lycocorax	204	(6)
Paradise Crow Lycocorax pyrrhopterus	205	(5)
Genus Manucodia	210	(31)
(Subgenus Manucodia)	210	(1)
Glossy-mantle Manucode Manucodia atra	211	(6)
Jobi Manucode Manucodia jobiensis	217	(3)
Crinkle-collared Manucode Manucodia chalybata	220	(4)
Curl-crested Manucode Manucodia comrii	224	(5)
(Subgenus Phonygmmus)	229	(1)
Trumpet Manucode Manucodia keraudrenii	229	(12)
Genus Paradigalla	241	(8)
Long-tailed Paradigulla Paradigalla carunculata	242	(2)
Short-tailed Paradigalla Paradigalla brevicauda	244	(5)
Genus Astrapia	249	(28)
Arfak Astrapia Astrapia nigra	250	(3)
Splendid Astrapia Astrapia splendidissima	253	(4)
Ribbon-tailed Astrapia Astrapia mayeri	257	(9)
Stephanie's Astrapia Astrapia stephanie	266	(7)
Huon Astrapia Astrapia rothschildi	273	(4)
Genus Parotia Parotia	277	(27)
Western Parotia Parotia sefilata	277	(6)
Lawe's Parotia Parotua lawesii	283	(9)
Wahne's Parotia Parotia wahnesi	292	(6)
Carola's Parotia Parotia carolae	298	(6)
Genus Pteridophora	304	(10)
King of Saxony Nird of Paradis Pteridophora alberti	305	(9)
Genus Ptiloris	314	(31)
(Subgenus Craspedophora)	315	(1)
Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus	315	(12)
(Subgenus Ptiloris)	327	(1)
Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseus	327	(7)
Victoria's Riflebird Ptiloris victoriae	334	(11)
Genus Lophorina	345	(11)
Superb Bird of Paradise Lophorina superba	345	(11)
Genus Epimachus	356	(20)
Black Sicklebill Epimachus fastuosus	357	(9)
Brown Sicklebill Epimachus meyeri	366	(10)
Genus Drepanornis	376	(14)
Buff-tailed Sicklebill Drepanornis albertisi	377	(8)
Pale-billed Sicklebill Drepanornis bruijnii	385	(5)
Genus Cicinnurus	390	(27)
(Subgenus Diphyllodes)	391	(1)
(Magnificent Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus magnificus	391	(10)
Wilson's Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus respublica	401	(6)
(Subgenus cicinnurus)	407	(1)
King Bird of Paradise Cicinnurus regius	407	(10)
Genus Semioptera	417	(10)
Standardwing Bird of Paradise Semioptere wallacci	417	(10)
Genus Seleucidis	427	(11)
Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise Seleucidis melanoleuca	428	(10)
Genus Paradisaea	438	(61)
Lesser Bird of Paradise Paradisaea minor	439	(9)
Greater Bird of Paradise Paradisaea apoda	448	(8)
Raggiana Bird of Paradise Paradisaea raggiana	456	(14)
Goldie's Bird of Paradis Paradisaea decora	470	(5)
Red Bird of Paradise Paradisaea rubra	475	(7)
Emperor Bird of Paradise Paradisaea guilielmi	482	(6)
(Subgenus Paradisornis)	488	(1)
Blue Bird of Paradise Paradisea rudolphi	488	(11)
Appendices	499	(74)
1. The hybrid birds of paradise.	499	(22)
2. Exploration of Australasia and the study of birds of paradise-an annotated list.	521	(31)
3. Results of an examination of 4852 musum skin specimens, with a locality and date, of collections for obvious signs of active moult.	552	(2)
4. Summary of records of plant species recorded to be eaten by birds of paradise from the literature and unpublished sources.	554	(6)
5. Some published recordings of bird of paradise vocalisations.	560	(1)
6. A brief guide to where and how best to study wild birds of paradise.	561	(5)
7. Gazetteer [of more important locations mentiond in the text with their geographical coordinates].	566	(7)
glossary	573	(7)
bibliography	580	(27)
Index	607