Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds

About this book

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

Customer Reviews (1)