Where do different types of peacocks live. Birds of paradise (lat.

There are many wonders in New Guinea, but one of them has not fascinated scientists as much as birds of paradise, which the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace called in the 19th century "the most extraordinary and most beautiful of the feathered inhabitants of the Earth." Fountains of delicately colored plumage literally gushing from the armpits, turning into delicate flowing cascades. Metal snails, swinging at the ends of elastic black wires. Stripes of blue smooth leather separated by black velvet stripes. Garlands of satin flags hanging from the head, iridescent crescent-shaped breastplates. Fancy tufts, earrings, pennants, ribbons, trains, lace skirts. All these are the details of the outfits in which the males of different species of birds of paradise are dressed.

Europeans first learned about the exotic relatives of crows in the 16th century, after Magellan's trip around the world. It was then that they started talking about the legless birds of paradise living in eternal flight. It was believed that the female lays a single egg in a recess on the back of the male, which constantly flies above the clouds. In the same place, in the sky, the chick hatches.

In the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus, paying tribute to a beautiful legend, described a large bird of paradise under the name Paradisaea apoda - "paradisaea legless". IN natural environment habitat, in New Guinea, Europeans saw the legendary birds only in the 19th century.

Later, naturalists often gave newly discovered species of these birds names in honor of representatives of royal families - emperors, princes, princesses, queens. This is how Latin names appeared: Paradisaea guilielmi, Paradisaea rudolphi, Pteridophora alberti.

Birds of paradise (Paradisaeidae) are a family of birds that belong to the order Passeriformes. There are 45 species in total, grouped into 13 genera. 38 species are found only in New Guinea and small adjacent islands. Four species are distributed in the northeast of Australia, two more species are endemic to the Moluccas. Despite lengthy research, until recently, no one managed to see all the birds of paradise.

In 2003, Cornell University ornithologist Edwin Scholes, along with Tim Laman, a biologist and photographer, began planning the biggest expedition of their lives: they ventured to see, photograph and describe all kinds of birds of paradise. It took 8 years and 18 expeditions. Using photographs, video and sound recordings, Scholes and Laman captured a variety of moments in the life of outlandish birds.

Although both men had been to the tropics before, they could not imagine what awaited them. They endured long hikes on flooded trails, twice drifted into the sea when they failed boat motors, and for the first photographs of the black-throated astrapia, frozen upside down in a courtship position, scientists spent more than two thousand hours in shelters, waiting and watching.

The mating of males was especially interesting. They spread golden feathers and dance comically, their sensitive feather-antennae look like robot antennas, their feathers shimmer, their necks seem to be decorated with necklaces, and their tails open like fans. Their coloring overshadows any gems, and all this extravagance serves one single purpose - to attract the attention of as many females as possible.

The evolution of birds of paradise was under the predominance of sexual selection for "external effects". And chose the weaker sex! Females choose partners with the most striking, and therefore dominant, traits, thus increasing the likelihood of passing on the corresponding genes to the next generation.

There are almost no predators in New Guinea, so magnificent birds thrived and developed eye-catching adornments to a degree that even pedantic and rarely surprised scientists called absurdity.

However, not all types of gentlemen can boast of bright colors and fancy decorations. An interesting pattern: the more modest the plumage of the male, the less he is prone to "polygamy" and the more exemplary family man and caring father he is. Males of such species help their only "lady of the heart" in incubation and rearing of offspring.

However, most species in this respect resemble peacocks, roosters and pheasants - the owners of vast "harems".

The postures and movements of the male birds of paradise during the lek are no less impressive than the decorations. Most members of the family lek in the crowns at a height of 20 m and above, only a few - in the undergrowth or on the ground. The latter carefully clear the current area from fallen leaves and other plant debris, cut off the leaves that shade the arena from the branches.

The current is usually accompanied by extremely diverse, but not too melodious cries: trumpeting and croaking sounds, piercing metallic whistling, hissing, chirping, murmuring trills.

Some artists prefer solo performances in front of the ladies. At Parotia, the performer, stretching out in a column and fluffing plumage on his sides, dances on a round stage with a diameter of up to two meters. The resemblance to a ballerina in a black tutu is simply amazing!

The male filamentous bird of paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) effectively uses 12 stiff, wire-like feathers in the dance, which protrude from the lush yellowish “clouds” covering the tail and bend forward. marriage partners now and then change places at the top of a dry vertical shaft (as if in the children's game "King of the Hill"). At the same time, it is believed that the female, striving to occupy the crown, is excited by tickling the male who is there with wires.

The royal bird of paradise (Cicinnurus regius) puffs up the brilliant scarlet plumage of the neck and chest, straightens the feathers on the sides that are smoky with a green edging. Having raised the tail vertically, becoming almost spherical from the tousled plumage, the male sways from side to side on cobalt blue legs. And the emerald spirals at the ends of the thread-like tail feathers make arcuate movements. It looks like the bird is juggling balls. Having finished the mating show, the male hangs upside down on a branch.

Other birds of paradise lek in whole companies: up to 40 males gather on the branches of one tree (sometimes serving as a lek for many generations), choosing sunlit areas. They scream, fly from branch to branch, and perform mating dances over and over again.

Luxurious feathers of birds of paradise have been highly valued as elements of exotic decor for thousands of years. Bird-catchers, who sold the first specimens to Europe in the 16th century, often mercilessly cut off Paradisaeidae wings and legs to reinforce the legend of the birds of the gods that soar in the clouds, never descending to earth, and feed on manna from heaven.

The appearance of a maned manucode in its blue-black outfit marked the end of research in June 2011. Scholes and Laman hope that their work will serve as a stimulus for the conservation of New Guinea, where animals are still protected only by the inaccessibility of their habitats. As Wallace wrote, "Nature seems to have taken every precaution to ensure that her most treasured treasures are not devalued by being too easily obtained."

Birds of paradise are inhabitants of dense tropical forests, but some rise to the cool foggy forests of the highlands and even to subalpine shrubs up to 4000 m above sea level.

Despite their bulky decorations, birds move well in the thick of branches, but they fly reluctantly and over short distances.

Their diet consists mainly of juicy fruits and seeds, many drink nectar (especially those with thin curved beaks), cope with nuts, collect insects on leaves and branches, catch small tree frogs and lizards.

Species list:

1. Red Rosella (Platycercus elegans)

Rumors about where peacocks live reached European shores much earlier than the birds themselves. Mariners admired bright plumage and the beauty of birds. Active interest in them has not subsided so far, although almost all zoos and reserves proudly display peacocks. So where do birds of paradise live in the wild?

The peacock is one of the most numerous large birds in wild nature

Beautiful birds from legends and fairy tales have always attracted a lot of attention. They used to live in the Pacific Islands and Australia. This was the reason why firebirds were present only in the stories of sailors, from where they eventually migrated to fairy tales. According to legend, the Dutch pioneers were the first to see the birds. From them came the name "birds of paradise". This name of peacocks is still preserved in English language. Europeans learned about wonderful birds thanks to trade sea routes. After that, rumors about birds reached America.

Today, birds are common on almost all continents and in all countries. There are a lot of species of birds of paradise, among which in the rainforest there are also the size of a tit.

1. Forests of India. Indian bird species are considered the most popular in the world. They are distinguished by a green tail and blue plumage. Where exactly does the peacock live? At first, this bird species lived only in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In the natural environment, peacocks prefer places to live near forest clearings, river banks and rural crops. Pastures and crops are suitable for finding food.
2. Thailand and Africa. Most of the bird species are found in these areas. For example, one of the most numerous species, the Javanese peacock, comes from Thailand. Outwardly, it is very similar to its Indian counterpart, it differs in the color of its plumage, which has a pronounced green tint. The African Congolese bird of paradise is also common. The homeland of the peacock is even near the Himalayas, where some of their species are common.

Birds prefer to live in dense thickets, where it is difficult to keep up with them. Peacocks live in the jungle or forests overgrown with dense shrubs.

As already mentioned, these birds live in Nepal, Australia, Africa, India and Sri Lanka. Where peacocks live, they eat insects, seeds, and plants. Occasionally they feed on small animals.

Burmese species - a subspecies of the Indian peacock

Facts about peacocks help you get to know the history of birds better. The name "peacock" has long been a household name for narcissistic people. The reason for this lies in the behavior of the birds themselves, which from the outside look extremely graceful, as if feeling superior to the rest. This refers to the “stronger sex”, because among peacocks it is the males who can boast of a large and beautiful tail, and the females look very modest.

Surprisingly, the luxurious feather fan, which is the real decoration of the bird, has nothing to do with the tail, as is commonly believed. The tail of the birds is small and neat. Attractive feathers are located in front of the tail, which they close when folded. Out of habit, non-specialists continue to call beautiful feathers a tail. Interesting fact about peacocks is that such a bird decoration grows by the third year of life. Wherein average term the life of the birds of paradise is 20 years.

With the help of a feather fan, peacocks:

1. Taking care of the "weaker sex". Nature did not reward peacocks with vocal data. Therefore, males lure girlfriends with a feather fan. And, I must say, they do it well, because one male can “charm” up to three females. Courtship is a real ritual.
2. Protect from enemies. Peacocks also use their tail as a defense tool against predators. The enemy usually retreats under the influence of an unraveled feather fan.
3. "Speak" to each other. Scientists claim that when the feathers move, ultrasound is emitted, which is inaccessible to the human ear. Sometimes even small fluctuations of the tail are traced, which pass from the base of the pen to its end. The vibrations are accompanied by a light sound, similar to the rustling of grass.

With such an ornament, despite the external heaviness, peacocks manage very deftly, even rising into the air. Birds of paradise soar above the ground for a short time, but at the same time they look incredibly elegant.

The appearance of birds from time immemorial guaranteed them a place in royal gardens and imperial palaces. Birds are considered a symbol of magnificence, pride and immortality in eastern countries. Often they became characters in fairy tales, and in legends and myths they were faithful companions of the gods. Birds are considered sacred in India. Here they are also a national symbol. But not everyone treats firebirds with the same admiration; for some peoples, they have become a symbol of misfortune and misfortune.

Green peacock lives in tropical forests

Summary

Where does the peacock live today? These birds of paradise have already settled on many continents. They can be found both in the savannah and in impenetrable rainforests. They settle down at the foot of the Himalayas and make their nests on the edge of the forest. Birds have their own interesting sides that make them special and attract the attention of zoologists.

Birds of paradise are a family of birds that belong to the order Passeriformes. These charming creatures have long been familiar to mankind and have a rich, centuries-old history. Despite this fact, the birds of paradise are one of the most secretive species. All birds were almost impossible to detect and count for an extremely long period of time.

And this despite the many expeditions and research. More recently, it has become known that the world there are 45 species of birds of paradise, 38 of which live on the islands of New Guinea. All species became known thanks to the feat of Tim Lehman, who in 2003 organized 18 long excursions in order to identify and capture in the photo absolutely all types of birds of paradise.

A bit of history

Birds of paradise became known to people back in 1522, thanks to their wonderful skins. They made a splash in the fashion world of that time. The skins were brought to Europe by a team of sailors who returned from Magellan. Those skins were gutted, had no limbs. People began to compose tales that strange birds do not have legs and levitate all their lives, carrying eggs (supposedly sitting on the back of a flying male) and eating in the air. Ignoring the words of one of the expedition members, who claimed that there were legs after all. The people could no longer be stopped beautiful legends firmly entrenched in society.

In 1824, the legend was destroyed by the French doctor René Lasson, while traveling to the islands of New Guinea, met a living specimen deftly jumping on two legs.

Trophy skins imported by sailors became wildly successful. Feathers were used as elements of clothing and jewelry. People went crazy from the unprecedented beauty, every girl wanted to have such a feather in her ladies' hat. During a short period of German colonization, more than fifty thousand skins of birds of paradise were taken from the islands.

Now, the destruction of the birds of paradise under a strict ban. The exceptions to the rule are: hunting for birds in order to conduct some kind of research, and making jewelry for the Papuans (first of all, this is a kind of tribute to traditions, secondly, the number of birds killed by the Papuans is negligible).

Alas, the threat has not passed. Bird feathers have greatly increased in price, and now they are a coveted profit for poachers.

General characteristics of appearance

Birds have a powerful beak, which from breed to breed reaches a very impressive size. Almost all birds have a wide, straight tail. Some species boast a long and stepped version.

The color of the representatives of the family varies widely, from very dark, with a metallic sheen, to bright and colorful individuals. Among the birds of paradise you can find:

• Yellow, with a hint of lemon;
• Red, combined with black;
• From bright blue to deep onyx and many more.

Males are brighter in color than females. Male individuals can boast of the presence of massive and bright feathers on the head and sides. “Decorating feathers” are displayed during games and mating dances. This is due to widespread sexual dimorphism in some bird species. This difference was also captured in Timothy Lehman's photo report.

Main habitats

This species is native to New Guinea. The adjacent islands are densely populated with various birds of paradise. Most members of the family prefer to live and eat in the forests. Birds often inhabit alpine forests.

Some species live in Australia, in the North and East of the country.

Nutrition

Birds of paradise do not have a very refined taste, therefore their diet does not differ much from that of other birds. Small individuals actively eat all kinds of seeds, medium-sized berries, and any other fruits that the bird can handle. Also tiny insects, beetles are used, arachnids. For the most part, large individuals are predators, quite capable of feasting on a small frog or lizard.

reproduction

As sad as it may be, birds of paradise prefer to live alone. But, not everything is so bad, some individuals still find a “life partner” and exist in pairs. The reason for this is the same dimorphism. The more the male and female differ in appearance, the less likely it is that the male will be monogamous.

Some males are ready to help the mother of their chicks. Such birds form pairs and work together. Most species prefer only to fertilize the female. The weaker sex performs further work independently. They build a nest, hatch chicks, feed them, and so on.

Worthy of special attention mating games of family members. This action resembles a bright festival. Males gather together and begin to show themselves to females. Birds try to show all their virtues, spread their wings, “dance”. During this period, whole flocks of graceful "cavaliers" gather on the tops of trees, trying to win the attention of females. Those, in turn, select the most suitable partner for mating.

Sometimes impromptu bird shows are held on the ground. "Speakers" find a suitable place and carefully prepare it, clearing excess leaves and creating comfortable places for the "spectators".

IN mating season the behavior of females is also different. One of the species, while the male is flirting with her, spreads its wings and hides his head in them. At this time, the bird looks like an oriental wife, an inhabitant of a harem, hiding her face behind a veil.

Outstanding representatives, their description and photo

Beauty will save the world, if the world does not destroy this very beauty ... This is exactly what can be said about the birds of paradise, which have almost disappeared from the face of the earth. And they died because they were very beautiful.

Birds of paradise were once found in great abundance on the islands of New Guinea. There was a real paradise for them - constant warmth, an abundance of food, practically no enemies. But then the natives settled on the islands and the paradise for the birds of paradise ended. They were caught in large quantities, killed, disembowelled and stuffed them.

When Europeans first came to the islands of New Guinea and saw these stuffed animals, they were simply amazed at the beauty of the birds. But they were very confused by one thing - for some reason, all the stuffed birds did not have legs. The natives explained as well as they could that these birds had no legs at all. All their lives from the moment they were born until their death, these cute birds simply flew near the sun and praised its greatness. When the time came to die, the birds simply fell to the ground. According to the natives, such birds do not need legs at all. After all, they do not go down and do not walk on the grass. All they do is fly and sing songs day and night.

And a strange thing - the Europeans believed. For some trinkets, they bought all the stuffed birds from the natives and took them to their ladies. And the ladies, without thinking twice, plucked feathers from the tails of the stuffed birds of paradise, stuck them in their hats and came up with a new fashion statement.

All these events took place in the 15th century. However, in the 16th century, a stuffed animal of one of the legless birds of paradise somehow got to the naturalists. And then it was decided to immediately assemble an expedition, visit New Guinea, and see the legless birds of paradise with my own eyes.

When the first bird of paradise was caught, scientists - biologists of that time were very disappointed - she still had legs. And quite large. And having examined this bird more closely, it turned out that it belongs to the order of sparrows, and they very much resembled crows ... And when the natives were asked in more detail, it turned out that when making stuffed birds, they specially cut off their legs. They have such a tradition ... It was this tradition that led to the erroneous opinion of the first Europeans, who saw the bird of paradise with their own eyes without legs for the very first time.

However, birds of paradise is not the name of any particular bird. This is the name of a genus of birds. And already in this genus, several species can be distinguished. These are the large bird of paradise, the golden bird of paradise, the imperial bird of paradise, the lesser bird of paradise, the reggiana bird of paradise, the red bird of paradise, and the blue bird of paradise.

But why do birds need such a beautiful and attractive plumage? And it's actually pretty simple. Only males are so brightly colored, while females of the bird of paradise have a very, very modest color. And as you know, the more beautiful the male, the more success he has with females. That's what this fabulously beautiful plumage is for.

This whole story about the birds of paradise is very sad. It turns out that even heaven is not as good as we imagine it to be...

Family birds of paradise is kindred to our crows. About fifty species of the most magnificent birds found on the Australian continent and in New Guinea have now been discovered and described. The most famous belongs to the legless bird of paradise, whose head is painted yellowish, the throat is green, the tail and wings are brown, and the legs are red.
Appearance of birds of paradise
The beak of these birds differs in shape, it can be long, thin and curved or thick, short and straight. The tail is both straight and short, and stepped, elongated, consisting of twelve feathers. The legs are short, have strong bent claws. The wings are also short, but wide. The plumage is predominantly dark, has a metallic sheen, some representatives are endowed with brighter colors - blue, yellow, red. Like most other birds, birds of paradise have more beautiful and attractive males, which is necessary for them to win the attention of females. On the sides and on the tail section, there are “decorating” feathers, which are shown during current games. There are also various tufts, tufts and collars.
The voice of these divine creatures does not at all coincide with a pleasant appearance, it is more like a croak with a hoarseness.
Habitat of birds of paradise
Birds of paradise are found not only in Australia, but also in New Guinea, the Moluccas and some other nearby islands. They inhabit both ordinary forests and high mountains. At the same time, birds are sedentary, their nomadism affects only a limited area.
Feeding birds of paradise
In the food of birds there are small fruits, berries, seeds, fruits, as well as small insects, frog lizards, larvae, mollusks. They feed on the tops of trees, gather food on the trunk or pick up food from the ground. They can definitely be called omnivores. Some species even know how to drink nectar.
Breeding birds of paradise
Loneliness is inherent in birds of paradise, they almost never gather in pairs. During mating games, males pose in front of their girlfriends, showing them their wonderful plumage. At the same time, up to thirty males gather at the top of the tree for display. If a legless bird of paradise plays with a female, she raises her golden plumage and covers her head under her wing. In this case, the bird becomes similar to a huge chrysanthemum.
Some birds make pas on the branches, while others frolic on the edges of the forests. Here they choose the optimal place, clean it from blades of grass and leaves, trample down the site, and then “dance” to their heart's content. During these displays, females fly up to males and random matings occur.

The monogamy of birds of paradise is evident. Males do not help with the construction of the house, do not participate in incubation and feeding. The females do everything themselves. In this case, the nests turn out to look like deep plates and are located on branches or in a hollow, they contain one or two eggs.
History

In the past, these birds were endowed with healing powers and fantastic abilities. The first sailors who visited New Guinea gave rise to outlandish rumors: birds of paradise have no legs, they constantly flutter, eating heavenly dew, hatching chicks on top of each other. If the angelic birds touch the sinful earth, they will instantly die.
The spread of such misconceptions was also facilitated by mercenary traders who sold birds as decorations. They even cut off the legs of the marvelous creatures so that the legends about them looked as realistic as possible.
The natives even have a well-established way of catching birds of paradise. During the day they make a hut in the crowns of those trees where the birds spend the night. Then a well-aimed archer climbs up there with arrows, while another waits below. When the native starts shooting, his partner picks up the stunned or dead birds. If sharp points are taken, they cannot survive, but if blunt points are used, birds of paradise stay alive. Some species are also caught with the help of loops.
Previously, birds were mercilessly allowed to create beautiful trinkets, destroying hundreds, but now their situation has improved somewhat. They are guarded, but not yet with absolute success, which, of course, would be nice to fix.