Wilson’s bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) is a stunning species of passerine bird belonging to the Paradisaeidae family. This family consists of 42 species in 15 genera, and the majority of them are found in the eastern parts of Indonesia Papua, Papua New Guinea, and eastern Australia. Unfortunately, many of these birds, especially those living in dense areas of rainforest, are at risk of being endangered due to habitat loss.
The Wilson’s bird of paradise, while not yet endangered, is on the threatened species list. The reason for this is also due to habitat loss. It is important to note that the male birds in the Paradisaeidae family are famous for their vibrant and colorful plumage, and this is definitely true for the Wilson’s bird of paradise. The male bird has a predominately black set of feathers, adorned with bright red, a large spot of vibrant yellow on his neck, practically emerald green on his throat, gorgeous blue feet, and beautifully curved violet tail feathers. Additionally, the male also has a naked fluorescent blue crown on his head, with a black double-cross pattern over it. It’s truly a magnificent sight to behold.
The female Wilson’s bird of paradise, on the other hand, is not as extravagant in plumage. They have a brownish coloring with a darker blue crown than the males of their species. Despite this, they are still beautiful in their own right.
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise is native to Indonesia, and you can find this gorgeous bird through the hill and lowland rainforest regions of Waigeo and Batanta Islands off West Papua. These birds prefer living in the hilly areas of the rainforest as they enjoy feeding on fruit and insects.
It is fascinating to note that the first time their mating dance was ever captured on camera was in 1996, thanks to world-famous British naturalist, David Attenborough.
In the wild, Wilson’s birds of paradise live around 5-8 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 30 years. Researchers and bird enthusiasts have yet to discover many things about Wilson’s birds of paradise and their behavior. Multiple males have been spotted in a shared area without aggression, so it’s possible that they are not territorial. However, it’s difficult to say whether or not they are aggressive. Out of the whole bird of paradise family, Wilson’s species remains the most poorly known.
Wilson’s Bird of Paradise is truly a stunning creature, and exemplary proof of nature’s incredible strength in diversity. We may not know all there is to know about this beautiful bird, but knowing that there are still mysteries in nature to unravel and questions to answer will only serve to fuel future generations to seek such answers. We can’t wait to see what comes next!
