Birds of Paradise

The most famous Cenderawasih bird is a member of the genus Paradisaea, including its species species, large-yellow Cenderawasih, Paradisaea apoda.

This type is described from specimens brought to Europe from the trade expedition.

These specimens are prepared by indigenous traders by removing their wings and legs so they can be used as decoration.


This is unknown to the explorers and raises the belief that this bird never landed but remained in the air because of its feathers.

This is the origin of the name bird of paradise ('bird of heaven' by the Englishman) and the apoda type name - meaning 'no legs'.

Many species have elaborate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea marrying systems are the male birds gathering to compete to show their elegance to female birds in order to mate.

While other types such as species Cicinnurus and Parotia have a regular marriage dance. Male birds of a sexually dimorphic type are polygamy.

Many hybrid birds are described as new species, and some species are questionable in their validity.

The number of eggs is a little less certain. On a large type, it may almost always be one egg. Small types can produce as many as 2-3 eggs (Mackay 1990).

It is reasonable to say that birds of paradise are touted as bird of paradise.

How not, the bird that became the mascot of Papua is indeed has a beauty with a beautiful coat color.

Because of its colorfulness, the bird of paradise is called a bird from heaven or a bird of paradise. In fact, reportedly because of its beauty is also this bird rarely come down to the ground or often fly in the air and perch on the branch of a tree.

The striking color of the cenderawasih feathers is usually a combination of several other colors such as black, brown, orange, yellow, white, blue, red, green, and purple. This bird grows more and more with the presence of elongated and unique feathers that grow from the beak, wings, or head.


The colors that these birds have in heaven vary and become one indicator of their grouping.

Birds of paradise are grouped in the Paradisaeidae family; Consists of 13 genus and approximately 43 species (types). Its native habitats are in dense forests commonly located in lowland areas and can only be found in eastern Indonesia, especially Torres strait islands, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia.


Because of the beauty of the feathers, the existence of this bird of paradise is increasingly threatened.

Wild hunting and fishing for commercial purposes as well as the destruction of living habitats in the wild are the main causes of this scarcity of birds.

Even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cenderawasih feathers flourished traded as a trend of decorating women's hats in Europe. But now these exotic beautiful birds are categorized as protected species.