This male bird fl uffs out his feathers.
Land of Plenty Welcome to New Guinea, the largest tropical island, and its nearby islands. T ey are home to some of the weirdest and wildest birds. T e flashy Wilson’s bird of paradise is just
the start. As many as 38 more species of birds of paradise live here. T ey’re not alone. T e world’s the tiniest parrots, one of the largest flightless birds, and the only poisonous birds live here, too. Many are endemic to the area. T at means these birds are found nowhere else in the world. For these birds, New Guinea is a land of
plenty. Since it lies near the Equator, most of the island remains warm all year. Juicy fruits grow all the time. Tasty insects are always buzzing and crawling through the forests. T at means there’s always plenty to eat. So the birds don’t face a lot of competition for food. T e island also has many diff erent kinds of
habitats. Swamps line parts of the coast. Rain forests grow farther inland. Steep mountains rise to icy glaciers in the middle of the island. Some birds thrive in the swamps. Others
live only in the rain forests. So their paths don’t cross. T ese birds don’t have to compete with one another for a place to live. T ere’s plenty of room for all of them.
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No Need to Hide T ere’s one more reason why New Guinea is a paradise for birds. T e birds have few predators here. So they rarely risk becoming another animal’s dinner. T is helps explain the birds’ bright colors
and whacky behaviors, too. T ey don’t have to hide from predators. So they don’t need camouflage or other adaptations to help them stay safe. Instead, these birds use their energy to stand out. Let’s meet some more of these bizarre birds.
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