Blue Bird-of-paradise
Blue Bird of Paradise
The Blue Bird of Paradise ( Paradisaea Rudolphi ) is a passerine bird that was discovered by Carl Hunstein in 1884 and named in honor of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria - Hungary.
Features
The predominantly black plumage is colored in bright blue on the back, wings and tail. With two highly elongated tail feathers, the male reaches a body length of 63 cm, the female only has a length of 29 cm. The male is dark on the bottom, those of the female, however, is maroon.
Occurrence
The blue bird of paradise inhabited the rainforests of the foothill to the east of New Guinea. It occurs mainly in the high levels of 1400-1800 meters.
Behavior
The bird holds mainly in the upper tree regions where he is looking for food. Its diet consists mainly of fruit, but insects and other invertebrates are picked from the leaves.
While females and young males live in small groups, the adult males are solitary.
Reproduction
During mating, the male attempts, first by constantly repeated plaintive cries one to attract females. If a potential mate, the male swings on his road to the rear until it hangs upside down, spreads its blue feathers on wings and flanks. By tapping fluffing of the black, red throat sac centered creates a buzzing, vibrant sound.
How many birds of paradise, this species is polygynous. The female builds in a low tree, a shallow bowl nest. It incubates the eggs alone, and also supplies the nestlings without the support of the male.
Stock
As the bird was hunted earlier due to its feathers threatens today mainly by habitat loss, particularly through clearing of large forest areas, or their conversion into agricultural land, danger to the already small holdings of the Art The stock situation is by IUCN with VU ( = vulnerable / vulnerable assessed ). The total population is estimated at a maximum of 10,000 breeding pairs, but will likely be much lower.