For any naturalist, the name 'New Guinea' conjures up one group of animals above all others the sensational birds of paradise, renowned for their dazzling and diverse plumages. Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds, the first comprehensive monograph to the group this century, also includes the bower birds, a group that extends into Australia that is perhaps best known for the males' construction of 'bowers', structures of twigs and sticks used to tempt in females.
This Helm Identification Guide covers the taxonomy, biology and conservation of these birds in great detail, including a series of plates packed with beautiful illustrations from Richard Allen, and hundreds of photographs covering the full range of racial and age-related plumage variety.
The product of almost two decades of research and scholarship and a must-have book for anyone interested in these stunning birds, this will remain the standard reference on birds of paradise for many years to come.
Contents
The species and subspecies of birds of paradise 6
Formerly classified as birds of paradise 8
The species and subspecies of bowerbirds 8
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10
INTRODUCTION 12
What is a bird of paradise? The family Paradisaeidae 12
That is a bowerbird? The family Ptilinorhynchidae 35
LAYOUT AND SCOPE OF THE BOOK 52
Species accounts 53
Glossary 56
List of abbreviations 68
PLATES 70
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 152
Birds of paradise Family Paradisaeidae 152
Genus Lycocorax 152
Genus Phonygammus 156
Genus Manucodia 161
Genus Paradigalla 171
Genus Astrapia 176
Genus Parotia 194
Genus Pteridophora 213
Genus Lophorina 217
Genus Ptiloris 226
Genus Epimachus 248
Genus Drepanornis 256
Genus Cicinnurus 263
Genus Semioptera 276
Genus Seleucidis 280
Genus Paradisaea 284
Genus Paradisornis 306
Formerly classified as birds of paradise 312
Genus Cnemophilus 312
Genus Loboparadisaea 318
Genus Macgregoria 320
Bowerbirds Family Ptilonorhynchidae 323
Genus Ailuroedus 323
Genus Scenopoeetes 340
Genus Archboldia 343
Genus Amblyornis 346
Genus Prionodura 361
Genus Ptilonorhynchus 365
Genus Sericulus 371
Genus Chlamydera 380
BIBLIOGRAPHY 399
INDEX 414