Of all the different varieties of bird of paradise, the Blue Bird of Paradise,  endemic of southeast  New Guinea, is considered to be the loveliest of all birds by ornithologists.

The male, 30 cm long, is adorned with striking violet blue and cinnamon colored plumes and two long ribbon like tail feathers. They have bright blue wings and their eyes have a broken white eye ring.  The female, not unlike most female birds, is of lesser hue for the purpose of blending in with her surroundings to guard against predators.

During courtship, most male Bird of Paradise will call out to other males and show off their beautiful display, while hoping to attract a female.  The Blue Bird of Paradise prefers his own private Lek.  He also likes to play around apparently since he is polygamous.

He will hang upside down on a branch and sway his body back and forth as his central tail feathers form two arches to either side. The black oval with red margin on the center of his chest rhythmically enlarges and contracts, while he sings in a low vibrating voice.

These birds like the tropical and subtropical moist forest areas where their diet is composed of  fruit.

Because of habitat loss and hunting in some areas for its highly prized plumes, the Blue Bird of Paradise is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN red list (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). It would be a shame to allow this beautiful bird to become extinct.