Christophe Courteau / African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) male sitting on nest on small branches in the shade. Okavango Delta, Botswana

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying for female on vine lek, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Chien Lee / Standardwing (Semioptera wallacii) male displaying at lek, Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia

Konrad Wothe / Magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) male perched in rainforest, Iron Range National Park, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia, November

Konrad Wothe / Victoria's riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying in rainforest, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia, October

Tim Laman / Berlepschi's Parotia Bird of Paradise (Parotia berlepschi) male on the perch at his display court. Foja Mountains, Papua, Indonesia, 2008. (taken during Conservation International Rapid Assessment Pro...

Jeff Wilson / Jeff Wilson searching for Birds of Paradise, tropical rainforest, Papua New Guinea. For BBC Planet Earth, Jungles episode, 2005

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male calling on calling perch near his display court, Huon Peninsula, YUS Conservation Area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Near-threatened

Tim Laman / Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) male and two females in display court, Batanta Island, Papua, Indonesia. Near-threatened.

Tim Laman / Female and young male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri) bird of paradise on Schefflera fruits, Southwestern slopes of Mt. Hage, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) adult male at lek display site in the top of a canopy tree. Batanta Island, Papua, Indonesia. Near-threatened.

Tim Laman / Adult male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) on display pole in swamp forest along the Karawari River, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) male calling in the vicinity of the Tari Valley, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Adult male Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) on his display pole in the swamp forest along the Karawari River, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora) male perched, Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Near-theatened

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male perched, Arfak Mountains, Papua, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise (Semioptera wallacei) male calling at display site in rainforest canopy, Kali Batu Putih, Halmahera Island, North Moluccas, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / King of Saxony (Pteridophora alberti) bird of paradise, male on display perch performing a practice display, Southwestern slopes of Mt. Hage, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male perched with fruit on calling perch near his display court, Huon Peninsula, YUS Conservation Area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Near-thr...

Tim Laman / Male Wahnes Parotia (Parotia wahnesi) bird of paradise in the YUS Conservation Area, Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, Endangered

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male erecting his cape in display on calling perch near his display court, Huon Peninsula, YUS Conservation Area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea...

Tim Laman / Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise (Semioptera wallacei) male at display site in rainforest canopy, Halmahera, North Moluccas, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Male Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) bird of paradise displaying on his display court to five females perched above, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New...

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male displaying to female at lek, Arfak Mountains, Papua, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Superb Bird of Paradise (Lophorina superba) male in rainforest canopy in the vicinity of the Tari Valley, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Male Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) bird of paradise displaying on his display court to five females perched above, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New...

Tim Laman / Male King Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regius) on his display vine in the rainforest canopy, in the vicinity of the Karawari River, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Female Brown Sicklebill (Epimachus meyeri) bird of paradise in the vicinity of Mt. Hagen, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / King of Saxony Bird of Paradise (Pteridophora alberti) male displaying on display perch, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora) male displaying to female at lek, Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Near-threatened.

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male perched, Arfak Mountains, Papua, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise (Semioptera wallacei) male at display site in the rainforest canopy, Kali Batu Putih, Halmahera Island, North Moluccas, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Wilson's Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) male, Batanta Island, Papua, Indonesia, Near-threatened.

Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male displaying to female at lek display site, Arfak Mountains, Papua, Indonesia.

Tim Laman / Male Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) bird of paradise perched, calling on display perch. Atherton Tablelands, Wooroonooran National Park, Queensland, Australia.

Tim Laman / Male Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) bird of paradise displaying at his display court, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Adult male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri) feeding on fruits of a Schefflera plant. Southwestern slopes of Mt. Hage, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora) displaying to female, Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

Tim Laman / Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) adult male at lek display site in the top of a canopy tree. Batanta Island, Papua, Indonesia.

Jouan & Rius / Male Madagascar paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata) singing and displaying, dry forest of Berenty reserve, Madagascar South

Tui De Roy / Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) parents with chick, Paradise Bay, Antarctica Peninsula, Antarctica

Phil Savoie / Raggiana bird of paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) male displaying to female, Papua New Guinea, Varirata NP.

Phil Savoie / Raggiana bird of paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) male displaying at lek Papua New Guinea, Varirata NP.

RICHARD KIRBY / Wilson's Bird of Paradise male displays to females on twig above. Irian Jaya, Western New Guinea (West Papua).

RICHARD KIRBY / Wilson's Bird of Paradise male displaying to females on twig above. Irian Jaya, Western New Guinea (West Papua).

Dave Watts / Superb lyrebird displaying {Menura novaehollandiae} SE Australia

Peter Blackwell / Paradise whydah, Masai Mara, Kenya

Andrew Walmsley / Female Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) on water. Christchurch, New Zealand, October.

Vladimir Medvedev / Asiatic paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) male flying away after feeding baby birds in nest, Primorsky Krai, Far East Russia, June, IUCN threatened species

Vladimir Medvedev / Asiatic paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) male feeding baby birds in nest, Primorsky Krai, Far East Russia, June, IUCN threatened species

Vladimir Medvedev / Asiatic paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) male and female feeding baby birds in nest, Primorsky Krai, Far East Russia, June, IUCN threatened species

Vladimir Medvedev / Asiatic paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi) female feeding baby birds in nest, Primorsky Krai, Far East Russia, June, IUCN threatened species

Sebastian Kennerknecht / African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) female, Hawf Protected Area, Yemen

Brent Stephenson / Antarctic shag / Blue eyed cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) rests on the water between dives, Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, December.

Loic Poidevin / Malagasy paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata)perched on branch, Madagascar.

Loic Poidevin / Malagasy paradise flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata)white phase, male perched on branch, Madagascar.

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male mating with a female on vine lek, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying on vine lek to attract females, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying for female on vine lek, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying for female on vine lek, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) female looks on as the male displays on vine lek, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male displaying on his vine lek to attract females, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) male, Paluma Range National Park, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) female, Paluma Range National Park, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) female feeding on berries, Malanda, Queensland, Australia

Martin Willis / Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus), Iron Range, Cape York Peninsular, Australia

Konrad Wothe / Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) male displaying to female, Batanta Island, Indonesia

Mark Hughes / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) female swimming, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington, New Zealand

Mark Hughes / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) male, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington, New Zealand

Mark Hughes / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) chick flapping wings, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington, New Zealand

Brent Stephenson / Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) perched on a rock whilst snowing. Paradise Bay, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, December.

Brent Stephenson / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) ducklings. Female in background. Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) duckling. Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) ducklings. Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Female Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) with duckling in shallow water. Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, October.

Brent Stephenson / Juvenile female Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata). Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand, September.

Chien Lee / Standardwing (Semioptera wallacii) male displaying at lek, Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia

Chien Lee / Standardwing (Semioptera wallacii) male displaying at lek, Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia

Chien Lee / Standardwing (Semioptera wallacii) male displaying at lek, Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult pair, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult pair, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult digging out nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult flying out of nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult at entrance to nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult flying out of nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult flying out of nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult flying out of nesting hole in termite mound, north Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) male, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adult pair, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) male displaying, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) male, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) male, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) adults displaying, male on right, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) male, North Queensland, Australia

Dave Watts / Buff breasted kingfisher / White tailed kingfisher (Tanysiptera sylvia) nest in termite mound, Queensland, Australia

Konrad Wothe / Magnificent riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) male perched in rainforest, Iron Range National Park, Cape York Peninsula, North Queensland, Australia, November