Editing Bird-of-paradise (section)

===Diet and feeding===
[[File:Ribbon-tailed Astrapia.jpg|thumb|right|Fruits of the genus ''[[Heptapleurum]]'' are an important part of the diet of the [[ribbon-tailed astrapia]].]]
The diet of the birds-of-paradise is dominated by fruit and arthropods, although small amounts of nectar and small vertebrates may also be taken. The ratio of the two food types varies by species, with fruit predominating in some species, and arthropods dominating the diet in others. The ratio of the two will affect other aspects of the behaviour of the species; for example, [[frugivorous]] species tend to feed in the forest canopy, whereas [[insectivore]]s may feed lower down in the middle storey. Frugivores are more social than the insectivores, which are more solitary and [[territory (animal)|territorial]].<ref name ="HBW"/>

Even the birds-of-paradise that are primarily insect eaters will still take large amounts of fruit. The family is overall an important seed disperser for the forests of New Guinea, as they do not digest the seeds. Species that feed on fruit will range widely searching for fruit, and while they may join other fruit-eating species at a fruiting tree, they will not associate with them otherwise and will not stay with other species for long. Fruit is eaten while perched and not in the air, and birds-of-paradise are able to use their feet as tools to manipulate and hold their food, allowing them to extract certain capsular fruit. There is some niche differentiation in fruit choice by species and any one species will only consume a limited number of fruit types compared to the large choice available. For example, the [[trumpet manucode]] and [[crinkle-collared manucode]] will eat mostly figs, whereas the [[Lawes's parotia]] focuses mostly on berries and the [[greater lophorina]] and [[raggiana bird-of-paradise]] take mostly capsular fruit.<ref name ="HBW"/>