The paradise bird is found in some medieval encyclopedias. It is said called paradisi volucres (bird of paradise) not because it is from paradise, but because of its celestial beauty. It is brown and small. The sweetness of its voice can arouse devotion and joy in people. If captured, it will not stop crying until it is freed. It is rarely found away from the region of the Nile River.

Despite the name, this bird is unlikely to be what today is called Bird of Paradise, because those birds are only found in New Guinea and Australia. The modern name could be derived from the ancient name.