The Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) is named for its smaller size relative to the similar Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda), with the species name minor (Latin for "lesser" or "smaller") highlighting this difference. The genus name Paradisaea originates from the Latin for "paradise," referencing 16th-century myths that they were celestial birds from Eden. A stunning, medium-sized bird endemic to New Guinea's rainforests, males possess iridescent green throats, yellow backs, and brilliant yellow/white flank plumes, while females are a duller brown for camouflage. Males gather in "leks" (group display areas) to perform complex, hours-long dances, hopping and spreading their yellow plumes to impress females. Found in the lowland, hill, and swamp forests of northern New Guinea, as well as the nearby islands of Misool and Yapen, they prefer forest edges and, at times, secondary growth, residing at altitudes from sea level up to 1,550 meters.
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