07th, September 1997

The birds of paradise

Many fasinating spe cies of birds are found around the world. Forest birds live high among the branches - sunbirds; humming-birds specialized in sucking up the nectar of flowers; toucans and hornbills feeding on the large juicy tropical fruit; Weaver Birds, flycatchers and bulbuls catching insects from the trees - and, on the ground, the weaker fliers or those less ready to fly, such as peacocks, pheasants, guinea-fowl, quail and Bamboo Partridge.

Above them all, fly the birds which catch insects in flight, such as swifts; and the birds of prey which circle above the forest canopy and the clearings. The Black Hawk Eagle, Martial Eagle, Monkey-eating Eagle and Harpy Eagle are among the more powerful, capable of killing the larger animals such as monkeys, sloths, large reptiles and birds. Smaller species - the Swallow-tailed Kite, goshawk, sparrowhawk and small falconets of the genus Microhieraxhunt smaller prey.

A few species of vultures are also found in the forest. These feed on carrion. The forest species include the Asian King Vulture and the South American King Vulture.

One of the stranger inhabitants of the mountainous forests of South America (and the coast of Trinidad) is the oilbird or diablotin. Oilbirds are gregarious, nocturnal, cave-dwellers. During the day, they stay in the caves where they build their nests. Emerging at dusk, they feed on fruit which they locate by sight or smell. In the caves, however, they make a series of clicks and screams which form the basis of their echo-location, enabling them fly (rather like bats do) in dark caves. The food collected during the night is stored in the crop and stomach where it is digested during the day. The young birds are reared in the nests inside the caves and become very fat. This is why they are often collected to obtain oil from their bodies.

Dazzling Plumage

Originating in Asia, the Common Pheasants were introduced into Europe by the ancient Greeks. Other species were imported much later and were used to decorate large country estates. They were also reared for sport.

In the Asian forests the wild pheasants live mostly on the ground where they nest and feed; although weak fliers, they can roost in trees. The Golden Pheasant is smaller than the common species and has a collar of gold-coloured feathers which enlarges during courtship. Related to the Golden Pheasant, but with plumage of a different colour, is the Lady Amherst's Pheasant which has a grey mottled head and neck, and a long grey, striped tail.

One of the most beautiful species is the Reeve's Pheasant with splendid golden plumage decorated with a chestnut "scale" pattern. Its tail can be over 1.5 metres long.

Symbol of Vanity

The wild peacock lives in the warm forests of Asia. A most beautiful bird, it has long been considered a symbol of vanity and conceit. When the male is courting it displays its marvellous circle of tail feathers. Peacocks are related to pheasants and there are several varieties of peafowl. (Peacock is the male and peahen the female).

They are frequently kept in captivity for their beauty, but their harsh screeching voice is less pleasing.

Birds of Paradise

The very name suggests beauty of form and splendour of colour. The Birds of Paradise live in Papua-New Guinea and the surrounding islands. There are some forty species ranging in size from fifteen centimetres to about one metre long, including the tail. The tail is often made up of long, soft, flowing feathers. They feed on fruit and insects. Their display dances in the mating-season are complicated rituals, showing the magnificent plumage to its best advantage.

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