The bird of paradise

Putri Amanda

SMPN 239 JAKARTA

The Cenderawasih, often nicknamed the "bird of paradise," is one of the most stunning creatures native from eastern Indonesia, especially Papua. The name "cendrawasih" itself comes from Sanskrit, meaning moon spirit, reflecting this bird's beauty and gorgeous. The uniqueness of the bird of Cenderawasih is in the male's bright and striking plumage, with many of colors such as red, golden yellow, blue, and green. Some species even have a long tails, like a ribbon or tassel that resembles a crown.

These birds lives in tropical rainforests across Papua, Papua New Guinea, and parts of Eastern Australia. They are very active in the mornings, especially during the mating season. The males bird will groom their feathers carefully and then perform a typical dance to attract females. This dance, involving complex body movements and distinctive, high-pitched calls, makes it one of the most spectacular mating rituals in the animal kingdom.

In terms of diet, birds of paradise are considered omnivorous. They eat tropical forest fruits like berries and figs, as well as insects and small animals like lizards and frogs. This diet helps maintain the balance of the forest ecosystem in which they live. Some well-known species include the King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius), the Greater Yellow Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda), and the Wilson's Bird of Paradise, which has a highly contrasting body color combination.

Unfortunately, the beauty of birds of paradise makes them targets for poaching, particularly for decoration or souvenirs. And  then,  habitat destruction because of logging and mining is being a danger to their life. This species are now listed as endangered and protected by law. Public education efforts are an important key to protect this bird of paradise in Indonesia's natural environment.