The birds of paradise : Paradisaeidae / Clifford B. Frith, Bruce M. Beehler ; illustrated by William T. Cooper ; sonogram production by Michael McGuire

"The first part of the book provides a comprehensive and scientifically accurate overview of the biology, ecology, and history of the group, written so as to be interesting and accessible to the lay-reader as well as the scientist. The authors' intimate observations of the birds have enabled them to describe for the first time how the extravagant tails and plumage are used in courtship and mating as well as to describe their nesting biology, about which little has been written previously. The role of the birds of paradise in human culture and tradition is explored in Chapter 7, and a final chapter discusses issues of conservation and threats to the survival of these unique and beautiful birds." "The second part of the book consists of species accounts of the 42 species of birds of paradise, describing their plumage, size, habitat, distribution, diet, reproduction, and behaviour in detail and accompanied by distribution maps and sonograms."--BOOK JACKET.