The Canopy
An almost religiously revered symbol of the soul of the Canopian people, the Bird of Paradise is a gorgeous and delicate bird renowned for its ability to learn and sing any song in a beautiful flute-like voice, and for its lavish plumage. They are, additionally, extremely loyal and affectionate, capable of bonding with any Canopian and responding well to training. They can be taught to sing, repeat simple words (in a much clearer voice than a songbird, and having a real vocabulary akin to that of an intelligent parrot), and do simple tricks like dancing and displays. They come in a gorgeous array of colors, with bright jewel tones and solid white birds being especially prized.
Birds of Paradise are unable to be tamed in adulthood, are extremely difficult to raise from chicks, and are very unlikely to breed in captivity. This makes them an incredible rarity, as they are either the once-in-a-lifetime surviving offspring of a tamed pair, or a chick captured and reared from an egg. Their high mortality rate and the superstitious fear of offending the Forest by killing one means that only very brave, very confident, or very foolhardy Canopians attempt to rear a Bird of Paradise themselves, although sometimes an abandoned nest is found and an effort simply must be made.
The sale of a single Bird of Paradise can retire a Canopian in comfort for the rest of their lives, and sometimes, for especially beautiful examples, even provide for their children and buy them a spot among the Nobility. They are so coveted, however, that some owners of Birds of Paradise sacrifice the promise of lifelong riches to keep the bird itself, and enjoy the privileges of the companion and the status this grants them in society. A well-tamed Bird of Paradise can be an entry into high society for even the lowliest Canopian. Shed Bird of Paradise plumes--each bird has four and sheds them rarely, perhaps once a year--also fetch a high price in the markets and are considered the absolute height of fashion--the bigger the better.
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