King of Saxony's bird-of-paradise
Birds-of-paradise occur in New Guinea highlands and on nearby islands; species called manucodes and riflebirds are found also in Australia. The largest manucode is the 45-centimetre (17 1/2-inch) curl-crested manucode (Manucodia comrii). The trumpetbird (Phonygammus keraudrenii) is 25 to 32 cm (10 to 12 1/2 in.) long and has head tufts as well as pointed neck feathers. It is named for the male's loud call. Others having special names include sicklebills and standardwings. Among the most notable birds-of-paradise are the plumebirds—the seven species of Paradisaea, 29 to 46 cm (11 1/2 to 18 in.) long. Their central tail feathers are elongated as wires or twisted narrow ribbons, and their filmy flank plumes can be raised and brought forward over the back, hiding the wings. The greater bird-of-paradise (P. apoda) has been introduced into the island of Little Tobago, in Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela. The 12-wired bird-of-paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca, sometimes S....