David Attenborough - 22/08/2009

Perhaps the most beautifully adorned bird in the world is the Bird of Paradise. This is the view of David Attenborough who makes no secret of his passion for this group of birds that live on the island of New Guinea.

Birds of Paradise evolved on a forested island in the tropics without any ground predators. This scenario of birds being safe from hungry mammals on the ground gave the male Bird of Paradise the opportunity to evolve dazzling arrays of feathers, streamers, flashes of colour and amazing display routines that emulate the most glossy catwalks in the fashion world.