A promiscuous mating system in the Blue Bird of Paradise Paradisaea rudolphi

We studied nesting behaviour, spatial dispersion of display areas and home range dynamics in the Blue Bird of Paradise Paradisaea rudolphi. We found that (1) females carried out nesting duties alone; (2) males displayed from solitary and dispersed sites; (3) female home ranges overlapped, and (4) males had access to and displayed to numerous females. These data suggest a promiscuous mating system in the Blue Bird of Paradise and resolve earlier controversy over this issue.