Notes on the behaviour and ecology of MacGregor's Bird of Paradise

Abstract

Observations made from 25-30 March 1980 at Lake Habbema, Irian Jaya, and notes in Rand (1940) confirm that Macgregoria pulchra is a monogamous bird of paradise with a tight pair-bond that is unusual in birds of this family. Pairs of Macgregoria occupy favoured roosting and feeding sites day after day, however, there is no evidence that individuals defend territories from conspecifics.

Macgregoria is a frugivorous bird of paradise that specializes on the fruit of Dacrycarpus compactus (Wasscher) de Laubenfels. It is suggested that peculiaritieiof this fruit diet of Macgregoria may help to explain its monogamous habits.