Baby birds, which are called paradise, despite the size of the lark (or even jays) are close relatives of our ravens. Almost all representatives of the well-known 45 species are residents of Australia. And only one settled in Madagascar. These exotic birds live mainly in the forest, build nests in the highlands.
The most famous is Paradise apoda, called Linea legless bird of paradise. The plumage on the neck and head of the bird is dark yellow, on the forehead and throat it is golden green, the tail and wings are brown.
All birds of paradise have a strong elongated beak. The tail of the majority is long, stepped. Plumage with a metallic sheen, dark, bright. The predominant colors are blue, red, yellow. Males are always brighter, with “decorating” feathers on their heads, tails or sides, which are demonstrated during complex current games.
The first in Europe to know the existence of these birds Magellan, who received a feathered bird as a gift from one of the sultans of the local Moluccas.
Mariners, conquered by its beauty, spread the tale that birds of paradise live only in the sky and, having barely touched the land, die. Even the hatching of the eggs, according to their claims, took place in flight: one bird laid eggs on the back of the other. And they ate exclusively dew. The birds of paradise allegedly had the miraculous power to heal.
Of course, such stories aroused curiosity and the desire to acquire such an amazing living "decoration" for your own home. Merchants, eager for profits and supporting the legend with all their might, removed the legs of the unfortunate birds.
For a long time, sailors and merchants deceived the Europeans by selling mutilated birds. The truth was revealed thanks to John Lesem, who told after the trip about how birds of paradise actually look and why until that time they were considered legless in Europe. It turns out that local hunters simply cut off the legs of the dead birds and dried only the carcass.
These exotic birds do not actually eat dew, but berries, seeds, lizards and tree frogs. They live mostly alone, occasionally - in pairs.
Paradise birds are especially attractive during the performance of their mating dance, when they take all kinds of intricate poses and demonstrate their chic plumage to the weaker sex. On one tree at this time, you can count up to three dozen males flirting with a female. At that time, she ruffled the “golden” wings and hid her head under them, becoming like a chrysanthemum.
But, in addition to dancing on the trees, birds of paradise also perform on forest edges. The male, having found a suitable place, cleans it of grass and fallen leaves, and then tramples the future scene. Having finished preparations on the ground, he rushes to the nearest trees and bushes and breaks the leaves on them, preparing comfortable places for viewing by the arriving "spectators".
The construction of the nest, hatching of laid eggs and feeding the hatched chicks lies on the female. The male does not take care of the offspring.
Nests are located mainly on the branches of a tree, only a large bird of paradise, also called royal bird, prefers to arrange nests in hollows. There are few eggs in the clutch (usually one or two).
These birds, as it turned out, quite easily carry captivity and keeping them is not so difficult. It is very important to provide space (there will be few cages or a small aviary) and proper nutrition (fruits, insects). In captivity, the lifespan of babies is about fifteen years.
Young males are similar in plumage to females. Only fully matured, they "put on" their elegant jewelry. Long molt (4-5 months) takes place every year.
Birds of paradise are able to give wedding performances in captivity, but, again - with appropriate care. But birds in captivity appear extremely rarely.
Birds of paradise today have become very rare and are on the verge of total destruction.
