Curl-crested Manucode: Unusual Anatomy | Cornell / National Geographic

At first look, manucodes appear almost normal compared to other birds-of-paradise. Males and females look alike, live in pairs, and males help raise the young. But on the inside manucodes have an exotic secret, and you can hear it in their voices. Males have a greatly lengthened windpipe that works like a wind instrument, creating a long, mellow, fluting song. Filmed and photographed by Tim Laman.

There are currently seventy-two short films in the entire Birds-of-Paradise Project playlist, ranging from 26 seconds to 8:29. In the upcoming weeks, we will present some of our favorites.

A film from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. If no film or link appears in this email, go to the blog to view it by clicking on the blog title above. If the film stops & starts in an annoying manner, press pause (lower left double bars ||) to let it buffer and get ahead of you.  [Chuck Almdale]