A rare Blue Bird of Paradise

The Birds of Paradise are without doubt the most exotic and extravagant of all tropical birds. The family is actually very varied one, but one group of species are known as 'plume birds'. This name is due to the beautiful lace-like feathers that hang from their flanks and are raised and made to shimmer in the most remarkable displays. The various species in this group sport different coloured plumes – some are white, some red, some yellow and the rarest of all has blue plumes.

The Blue Bird of paradise – more correctly know as Paradisea rudolphi (or Prince Rudolph's Bird of Paradise) was named in the late 19th century after a prince who was at one time destined to become Emperor of Austria. This destiny was never fulfilled, however. Forbidden by his father to marry or live with the woman he loved, the love-lorn pair committed suicide in a pact that rocked Euro. Perhaps the greater part of this tragedy lies in the likelihood that had he lived his liberal views may have prevented the celebrated assassination at Sarajevo (which started World War I) from taking place, and the whole history of the 20th century might have been very different. His bird is particularly famous for its strange upside-down dance in which is displays its wonderful blue plumes, a dance which was featured in one of David Attenborough's programmes about birds of paradise.

In addition to a very rare specimen of Prince Rudolph's Blue Bird, Summers Place is also pleased to offer an example of Count Raggis red-plumed bird (Paradisea raggiana) and another of the species Paradisea minor. Along with these is a very different bird of paradise species, one known as the Magnificent Bird (Cicinnurus magnifica).

Taxidermy