Wilson’s bird of paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) is a species of passerine bird in the family Paradisaeidae. Most of the species included in the Bird of Paradise species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia.
The Bird of Paradise family contains 42 species in 15 genera, and most of them live in dense tropical forest areas, so many are endangered or somewhat endangered. Wilson’s bird of paradise is not endangered but is threatened and listed as endangered due to habitat loss.
As for all birds in the family Paradisaeidae, they are notorious for the fact that the males (of which there are more) have bright and colorful plumage (the appearance and color of their feathers, in layman’s terms). The bird of paradise is no exception: it has a predominantly black set of feathers adorned with bright red, a large bright yellow patch on its neck, the green on its throat is almost emerald, gorgeous blue feet, and beautifully curved purple tail feathers…
Not only does it have incredibly colorful plumage, but Wilson’s bird of paradise also has a naked fluorescent blue head crowning it, with a black double cross pattern above it. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise is native to Indonesia. You can find this gorgeous bird through the hill and lowland rainforest regions of Waigeo and Batanta Islands off West Papua.
As you can see, female Wilson’s birds of paradise are not so extravagant in plumage. They have a brownish coloring with a darker blue crown than the males of their species.
According to Wikipedia, “A 2009 study examining the mitochondrial DNA of all species to examine relationships within the family Paradisaeidae and its closest relatives found that the family emerged 24 million years ago.”
According to the bird fan blog Just Birding:
“Don’t worry about the gray female, because it is this sexual dimorphism that gives her the ability to judge the male’s appearance and choose whether he will be a suitable father for her offspring from a genetic point of view.”
Like many birds of paradise, Wilson’s likes to feed on fruit and insects so it prefers living in the hilly areas of the rainforest.
On average, these beautiful birds are about 6.3 inches (16 cm) in length but males can easily reach a length of 8.25 inches (21 cm) when including their iconic, curlicue tail feathers.
Surprisingly, not a lot is actually known about Wilson’s birds of paradise when it comes to their breeding and mating habits… with a few exceptions. Most notably: the male’s intricate dance routine.
Having fluffed out his plumage for an exotic dance, the male turns into a “brilliant green disc” and his mouth opens, emitting a fluorescent glow. It literally becomes a beacon of color.
In the wild, Wilson’s birds of paradise live around 5-8 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 30 years.
There are many other things researchers and bird enthusiasts simply don’t know about Wilson’s birds of paradise and their behavior.
JustBirding reports that several males were seen in the general area without aggression, so it is possible that they are not territorial, but it is difficult to tell whether they are aggressive or not. “Of the bird of paradise family, Wilson’s remains the least known,” adds JustBirding.
Check out this beautiful bird in action:
Male Wilson’s Bird of Paradise are polygamous, so this species does not mate for life. Actually, the males will mate with multiple females at a time.
After this, the females build and care for nests for the eggs. So, the pairs are busy, the females are building nests, and the males are just looking for the next female to get busy with! What a bird.
The first time their mating dance was ever captured on camera was in 1996, thanks to world-famous British naturalist, David Attenborough.
Wilson’s bird of paradise is a truly stunning creature and exemplary proof of nature’s incredible power in diversity. We may not know everything there is to know about this beautiful bird, but knowing that there are still mysteries to be solved and questions to be answered in nature will only encourage future generations to search for such answers, and we will not can’t wait to see what happens. next.
H/T: pupperish
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