The Cenderawasih

Adult males Cendrawasih Yellow-small,
Paradisaea minor

The Cenderawasih birds are members of the Paradisaeidae family of the Passeriformes order. They are found in eastern Indonesia, Torres strait islands, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. This family bird is known for its male feathers in many types, especially the elongated and elaborate feathers that grow from the beak, wings or head. The size of Cenderawasih birds ranges from Cenderawasih king at 50 grams and 15 cm to Cenderawasih Black-crescent at 110 cm and Cenderawasih manukod crest-rolled at 430 grams.

The most famous Cenderawasih bird is a member of the genus Paradisaea, including its species species, large-yellow Cenderawasih, Paradisaea apoda. This species is described from specimens brought to Europe from trade expeditions. These specimens are prepared by indigenous traders by removing their wings and legs to be used as decoration. This is unknown to the explorers and raises the belief that this bird never landed but remained in the air because of its feathers. This is the origin of the name bird of paradise ('bird of heaven' by the Englishman) and the apoda type name - meaning 'no legs'.

Many species have intricate mating rituals, with the Paradisaea breeding system being the male birds gathering to compete to show their elegance to female birds in order to mate. While other types such as types Cicinnurus and Parotia have a regular marriage dance. Male birds of a sexually dimorphic type are polygamy. Many hybrid birds are described as new species, and some species are questionable in their validity.

The number of eggs is a little less certain. On a large type, it may almost always be one egg. Small types can produce as many as 2-3 eggs (Mackay 1990).

It is reasonable to say that birds of paradise are touted as bird of paradise. How not, the bird that became the mascot of Papua is indeed has a beauty with a beautiful coat color. Because of its colorfulness, the bird of paradise is called a bird from heaven or a bird of paradise. In fact, reportedly because of its beauty is also this bird rarely come down to the ground or often fly in the air and perch on the branches of trees.

The striking color of the cenderawasih feathers is usually a combination of several other colors such as black, brown, orange, yellow, white, blue, red, green, and purple. This bird grows more and more with the presence of elongated and unique feathers that grow from the beak, wings, or head.

This beautifully hairy bird of paradise is usually a stud. The beautiful fur is the capital of male cenderawasih to attract the attention of the female in the breeding season. In addition to showing off the beauty of their fur, male cenderawasih even perform attractive movements similar dance dynamic and beautiful to grab the attention of females. Each type of cenderawasih has different types of dance and attractions. Female Cenderawasih tends to be smaller in color with fur is not as beautiful and as a color cenderawasih male.

The colors that these birds have in heaven vary and become an indicator of their grouping. Birds of paradise are grouped in the Paradisaeidae family; consists of 13 genera and approximately 43 species (types). Its native habitats are in dense forests commonly located in lowland areas and can only be found in eastern Indonesia, especially Torres strait islands, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia.

Reportedly, Indonesia is a country with the largest number of species of paradise. Allegedly there are approximately 30 species of paradise in Indonesia, 28 species of which can be found in Papua. Cenderawasih bird wire (Seleucidis melanoleuca) is the type that became the mascot or the identity of the Papua Province. In addition to being a Papuan mascot, people in Papua also often use cenderawasih fur as a complement or decoration in their customary clothing.

Because of the beauty of the feathers, the existence of this bird of paradise is increasingly threatened. Wild hunting and fishing for commercial purposes and the destruction of living habitats in the wild are some of the main causes of this scarcity of birds. Even in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cenderawasih feathers flourished traded as a trend of decorating women's hats in Europe. But now this exotic beautiful bird is categorized as a protected species of animals.

In Indonesia alone, several species of cenderawasih include small yellow cendrawasih, bald cendrawasih, cendrawasih king, red cendrawasih, and toowa has been included in the list of protected species based on Law No. 5 of 1990 and PP No. 7 of 1999. Utilization of cendrawasih feathers still allowed only for the benefit of local people in decorating their customary attire. It is certainly not excessive and fortunately the people of Papua have local wisdom and customs to contribute to preserve this bird.

Here are some types and characteristics of cenderawasih birds.

Lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor)

Lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor)

 Among the many species of cenderawasih, perhaps this bird is the most familiar to most people. This bird has a brownish-red color with a yellow crown and a brownish yellow upper back. This type of bird has an old emerald green throat, a pair of long tails and decorated with yellow and white wings. This bird's native habitat is found throughout most of northern Papua New Guinea's forests as well as nearby islands, such as Misool and Yapen Islands.

Red Cenderawasih or Red bird of paradise (Paradisaea rubra)

Named red cendrawasih because this bird has a dominant color of red blood fur. Other color combinations appear on the face; dark-colored fur, has a kind of emerald-green crown or crest, a beak and a little beneath a bright yellow neck. In the tail there are two long feathers similar to the rope or double ribbon-shaped black ribbon. Cenderawasih red only found in lowland forest, including in Waigeo Island and Batanta, Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua.

Red Cenderawasih

In Sawinggrai Village located in the Meos Mansar District, red cenderawasih is a typical icon of this small village. In the village, you can watch this type of bird in the native habitat performing dancing attractions at certain hours, ie in the morning and evening in the breeding season.

Lawes's Parotia (Parotia Lawesii)

Lawes's Parotia (Parotia Lawesii)

 At first glance this kind of male bird posture similar to the kneeut, only it is black with white forehead and dark blue eyes. The nape is blue; a little at the top of the chest (starting from below the beak) colored blend of green and gold. The striking feature of this type of bird is that there are three elongated feathers that grow from the tip of each eye (each 3 strands). Meanwhile, the female bird is brown and the eyes are dark yellow.

King of Saxony bird of paradise (Pteridophora alberti)

King of Saxony bird of paradise (Pteridophora alberti)

King of Saxony bird of paradise is a type of birds who are small pengkau because it has a length of approximately 22 cm. Male birds are black and yellow. The coat and back of her coat grow elongated like a black hood. On the part from chest to stomach yellowish white. The iris of his eyes is dark brown and the beak is black with the inside of the mouth green in the sea. What makes it attractive and exotic is the presence of two strands of shiny, shimmery blue wire that grow from the face. The length can reach 40 cm, as if not balanced with his small body.

While the female bird is gray-brown with dark lines and spots. Female birds do not "wear" coats and do not have elongated wire feathers. Female birds are smaller than male birds.

Wilson's bird of paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)

Wilson's bird of paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)

 Male Wilson's Bird of Paradise is a small size of approximately 21 cm is a color of blood red and black. He "wore" a bright little yellow robe at the nape of the nape. On the head, he seemed to wear a sky-blue headdress, a little lighter than the color of his feet are also blue. In addition to an interesting blend of color, the uniqueness of this bird is to have two purple tail feathers and a curved shape similar to tendrils. While the female bird has a brownish color and blue crown.

In addition to the birds on the cenderawasih, there are many other types with different colors and variations of feathers and not less beautiful. May the birds of this paradise not be a kind of fairy tale for future generations because of human irresponsible acts that threaten its sustainability.