Papua is the natural home of the
beautifully colored Birds of Paradise widely admired for their
exotic plumage. In Indonesia these rare birds are called Cendrawasih,
the Indonesian name for the Paradisaeidae bird family, considered the
most beautiful birds on the planet.
Best place to have an opportunity get close these
Birds of Paradise are in the village of Sawinggrai in the Raja
Ampat island chain off the coast of West Papua.
These rare and exotic birds are best known for
their extravagantly colorful coat, elongated tail feathers and decorative
plumage. The family consists of nearly 40 species, the majority of which are
endemic to the island of New Guinea and a few of its smaller surrounding
islands, though a small number of species can also be found in the Moluccas and
Eastern Australia.
Birds of Paradise are generally crow-shaped, and
vary in size from about 15cm to 110cm in length. Male Birds of Paradise
boast a striking combination of colorful feathers of every imaginable design;
from tall, fanning plumage atop their heads, to long, trailing tail feathers
behind. Some parts of the bird are patches of bald skin with no feathers, yet
still splashed with shockingly vivid colors. The male Bird of Paradise uses its
outrageously gaudy appearance to attract and court the female of its choice,
and many will perform a “courtship dance” which involves fluffing out their
feathers, displaying them in their full splendor.Females, on the other hand,
are for the most part brown and dull-colored, with smaller or no ornamental
plumes, helping them to maintain camouflage when caring for their young.
Most birds of paradise live in tropical forests and swamps, with a few species
recorded inhabiting mangrove forests.
Because of the Birds’ unique and stunning colors,
they have for centuries been hunted, their feathers used for decoration and
supposed mystical powers. There was once a myth that the birds had come from
the gods and never touched the earth, and this myth only served to accentuate
the value of the birds until their feathers were in such demand that the
species nearly reached extinction. Birds of Paradise are currently listed as
endangered species, but this has not stopped the illegal trade and export of
the birds on the black market.
The Lesser Bird of Paradise,
(Paradisaea minor,) is perhaps one of the best known among the many species of
Birds of Paradise. Its body has a coat of reddish-brown, and crowned with a
head of bright yellow. Male birds sport a dark, emerald green throat and a pair
of bright yellow and white long tail feathers. These birds are native to the
northern forests of Papua New Guinea as well as the surrounding islands such as
at Raja Ampat’s Misool island and in Yapen.
Cendrawasih Merah, or the Red
Bird of Paradise, (Paradisaea Rubra,) gets its name from its dominant color
being a deep crimson red with wisps of white slashing through, and a bright green
head. Males have dark patches around the eyes, twirling black cork-screw tail
wires, and ornamental red plumes atop their head that may take as long as 6
years to attain. The female is similar, but with a brown face and no plumes.
The Red Bird of Paradise is found in lowland forests and is endemic to the
islands of Waigeo and Batanta in Raja Ampat, West
Papua. It shares its habitat with another bird of paradise, the
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise. The Red Bird of Paradise is depicted on the front
side of the 1992 edition Rupiah 20,000 Indonesian banknote.
Lawes Parotia, (Parotia
Lawesii,) has a similar shape to that of a male turtledove, but with a velvet
black coat, silvery white forehead, blueish nape and golden green breast. The
shape of the birds’ feathers reflects light in such a way that two different
colors are visible: bright blue-green and orange-yellow. When the bird moves,
the colors switch sharply between these two colors, and systematic moves
involving these are made to attract females during courtship. 3 ornamental
wires adorn the head of the male Lawe’sParotia, together with black flank
feathers that spread in a skirt-like display. The iris of the birds may switch
from blue to yellow according to its mood. The bird is endemic to south and southeastern
Papua New Guinea, and is named after the New Guinea pioneer missionary,
Reverend William George Lawes.
King of Saxony Bird of Paradise
(Pteridophora Alberti,) is a relatively small Bird of Paradise,
measuring only approximately 22 centimeters in length. Males are black and
yellow with a black bill and green mouth. As with all birds of paradise, it
needs something weird and unique. In the case of the King of Saxony, it is two
ridiculously long enamel blue brows, measuring 40 centimeters in length that
can be erected at will. These ornamental plumes are so disproportionate that
when the first specimen was brought to Europe, it was thought to be a fake.
Although males have long been hunted for their lengthy plumes, the King of
Saxony is fairly common within its habitat and is the least endangered of all
the Bird of Paradise species. The species thrives around the mountains of Papua
New Guinea.
Wilson's bird of paradise, (Cicinnurus
respublica,) is a small, yet elaborately colored bird. The male is red
and black with a yellow mantle about its neck, a light green mouth, blue feet
and two curving violet tendrils for a tail. Its head is naked, with bright blue
skin and a double cross shape. The colors of the bird are so vivid, that it is
visible clearly amidst the fields and even at night. The female is a brownish
bird with a bare blue crown. The Wilson’s bird of paradise is endemic to
Indonesia, and found on the islands of Waigeo and Batanta
in Raja Ampat, off the coast of West Papua.
there are my informations about cendrawasih, I hope my informations will make you interestest with Indonesian ..
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BalasHapusterima kasih ...
BalasHapus