Introduction The 41–43 species of birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) (Beehler & Pratt 2016; Gill & Donsker 2019) are renowned for their exquisite beauty and plumage, and their diversity of extraordinary courtship displays (Gilliard 1969; Cooper & Forshaw 1977; Coates 1990; Frith & Frith 2009; Laman & Scholes 2012; Ligon et al. 2018). Males of the majority of birds-of-paradise (35–37 species) are presumed

Abstract

Introduction The 41–43 species of birds-of-paradise (Paradisaeidae) (Beehler & Pratt 2016; Gill & Donsker 2019) are renowned for their exquisite beauty and plumage, and their diversity of extraordinary courtship displays (Gilliard 1969; Cooper & Forshaw 1977; Coates 1990; Frith & Frith 2009; Laman & Scholes 2012; Ligon et al. 2018). Males of the majority of birds-of-paradise (35–37 species) are presumed