<P> New Guinea has a rich biodiversity of bird life, with over 79 families and approximately 730 species that can be classified into four groups: breeding land and freshwater species, seabirds, migrants from the north, and migrants and vagrants from Australia and New Zealand . There are eight Endemic Bird Areas with about 320 endemic bird species in New Guinea . </P> <P> The largest birds in New Guinea are the flightless cassowaries, of which all three species are native to New Guinea . Two of these species: the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) and the northern cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) reach heights of 1.8 metres (6 ft). The southern cassowary is also native to northern Australia . The cassowary is one of the world's most dangerous birds, for it is capable of inflicting fatal injuries with its powerful legs and the dagger - like claw on its inner toe . It is known to have killed humans . </P> <P> The pigeons and parrots are well represented in New Guinea . They achieve their greatest evolutionary diversity in New Guinea for the island is abundant in fruits and nectar producing plants . The parrots of New Guinea, as with Australia, are very diverse with 46 species, a seventh of the world's total . The forty - five species of pigeons, including the three crowned - pigeons, the largest pigeons in the world, are a sixth of the world's total . </P> <P> The passerines display the greatest amount of diversity with over 33 families within New Guinea . The passerines of New Guinea are mostly small, often colourful birds which mostly inhabit the forested regions . The best - known family in New Guinea is the Paradisaeidae, one of three families there known collectively as birds - of - paradise . Many species show extravagant sexual dimorphism . The males can be ornamented with bright, iridescent colours, and modified, ornamental feathers such as tufts and wattles . They also display mating rituals, in which they undergo elaborate movements and calling, to attract females . Some species do not show sexual dimorphism; both male and female can have or lack ornamentation . </P>

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