Drawn from Paradise

A magnificently illustrated celebration of the birds of paradise and the myths and history surrounding them, from the beloved BBC host.

The sixteenth-century Europeans gave them the name birds of paradise—birds so beautiful that they must have come from paradise. Originally, they were thought not to have legs and therefore never to touch the earth. Still very rarely encountered, even in their natural habitat of New Guinea, they elicit sheer awe in those who are lucky enough to see them. 

Drawn From Paradise showcases the magnificence and beauty of these birds as they have never before been seen, with more than two hundred hand-painted images and sketches by the men who originally studied them and luminary artists such as Jacques Barraband, William Hart, John Gould, Rubens, and Breughel, to name a few. The art comes from the private collections of the two authors and has been rarely if ever published, and features the Greater Bird of Paradise and more than forty other distinct species currently recognized—with amazing differences in size, shape, and color patterning.


The introduction provides a brief history into the discovery of these illustrious birds, from how they were originally perceived and idolized by the natives of New Guinea to the arrival of Europeans, who were immediately captivated by their bright, vibrant colors. With vivid, highly detailed paintings and information about each individual bird, this is a treasure for birdwatchers and lovers of nature and art.