NESTING-BEHAVIOR OF A RAGGIANA BIRD-OF-PARADISE

We made observations of a nest of a Raggiana Bird of Paradise (Paradis aea raggiana) for 22 days. The single nestling was attended only by th e female and was fed only arthropods until day 5, and thereafter a mix of arthropods and fruit. Evidence from regurgitation of seeds at the nest indicates that the parent subsisted largely on fruit. This dietar y dichotomy conforms to that of other polygynous birds of paradise and accords with socioecological predictions concerning single-parent nes tling care.