Displays of the Red Bird-of-Paradise Paradisaea rubra and their significance, with a discussion on displays and systematics of other Paradisaeidae

Abstract

The calls, displays and other behaviour of a captive population of Red Birds-of-paradise Paradisaea rubra are described and illustrated. Various loud advertisement calls are very similar to those of congeneric species but a peculiar display call is considered unique. Brightly coloured flank-plumes conspicuously used in display by congeneric species appear to be relics in P. rubra because postures performed by it do not emphasize them but predominantly exhibit peculiar adornments on the head. The sequence in the display observed appears to be more complex than any previously described for Paradisaeidae and is quite distinct from that of other Paradisaea species, contrary to previous opinion.

Displacement Bill-wiping and visual food-searching have probably reached ritualized significance in this display of P. rubra Several ethological characters found in P. rubra also occur in Cicinnurus regius and Diphyllodes spp. With regard to Cicinnurus these sirnilanties are stressed because the relationshipr between itland Paradlsaea {as previously been considered obscure but is possibly closer than believed. On ethological evidence Cicinnurus and Diphyllodes are probably best treated at present as a distinct group closer to Paradisaea than to the group Lophorina, Parotia and Pteridophora.

The uniform cryptic coloration of females in polygynous birds-of-paradise is probably the result of convergent evolution, correlated with the fact that only females attend nests.