Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Cicinnurus respublica
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise is a small, intensely colorful species with a red back, yellow nape, an iridescent green breast shield, and a bare, patterned blue crown. It is restricted to a couple of small Indonesian islands where males display and clear small ground courts.
- Feather type
- Curled wire-like tail feathers, glossy contour feathers
- Colours
- Red back, yellow nape, black-and-emerald-green breast shield, with a bare blue crown
- Bird size
- Small, ~16-21 cm plus tail wires
Found a feather like this?
Identify any feather from a photo, free.
Overview
Overview
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise is one of the most vividly plumaged small birds-of-paradise, combining several strong colors with a patch of bare, patterned skin on the crown. Restricted to a very small range, it is a striking example of the family's diversity in small-bodied form.
- Extremely limited range within a small part of Indonesia
- Combines vivid feather colors with a bare patterned crown patch
- Males perform ground-based display routines rather than canopy displays
Identifying the Feather
Feather Identification
Adult males show a red back and rump, a yellow band across the nape, and an iridescent breast shield combining black and emerald green. Two curled, wire-like violet-blue tail feathers extend from the rear.
- Back and rump: red
- Nape: yellow band
- Breast shield: iridescent black and emerald green
- Tail wires: curled, violet-blue, wire-like
- Crown: bare, patterned with fine black lines over blue skin, not a feathered area
The red back paired with a yellow nape band and curled violet-blue tail wires is unique to this species among small birds-of-paradise.
Plumage & Molt
Plumage Notes
Adult males show the full vivid plumage described above, while females and immature males are duller, mostly brownish with faint barring on the underparts. Full plumage, including the curled tail wires, develops gradually as males mature.
- Adult males: vividly colored plumage with curled tail wires
- Females and immatures: dull brownish, barred plumage
- Tail wires and breast shield color intensify with age
Habitat & Range
Habitat & Range
Restricted to lowland rainforest on Waigeo and Batanta, two islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago of West Papua, Indonesia.
- Non-migratory resident with an unusually small global range
- Entirely dependent on intact island lowland rainforest
- Not found on the New Guinea mainland
Behavior & Field Notes
Behavior & Field Notes
Males clear a small patch of ground or a low display court, where they perform to attract females, differing from the elevated branch displays of some relatives. Diet is mainly fruit supplemented with small animal prey.
- Voice: short, sharp calls given around the display court
- Nesting: females build and tend nests alone
- Field notes: the red back, yellow nape, and curled violet-blue tail wires are distinctive and unmatched by any other small bird-of-paradise in its limited range
Frequently asked questions
What is the clearest feather identification feature?
A red back, a yellow band across the nape, and two curled violet-blue wire-like tail feathers are the key combination.
How does this species display?
Males clear a small ground court rather than displaying high in the canopy, unlike many other birds-of-paradise.
Where is Wilson's Bird-of-paradise found?
Only on Waigeo and Batanta islands within the Raja Ampat archipelago of West Papua, Indonesia.
What does the female look like?
Females are dull brownish with faint barring, lacking the male's vivid red, yellow, and green plumage and tail wires.
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Wilson's Bird-of-paradise.
Other feathers you may enjoy
Yellowhammer
Streaked contour feathers; chestnut rump feathers; notched tail with white outer edges
Yellow Wagtail
Long tail feathers (shorter than Grey Wagtail's); slim pointed wings
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Soft contour feathers with a slight crest
Yellow-throated Bunting
Body contour feathers with a short blunt crest tuft
Yellow-winged Cacique
Glossy black body feathers, yellow wing patch, shaggy crest
Yellow Warbler
Small contour and flight feathers
Yellow-shouldered Blackbird
Black body feathers with a yellow shoulder patch
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Glossy black body feathers, bright yellow rump and wing patch
Yellow-throated Warbler
Small contour and flight feathers
Yellow-throated Vireo
Bright yellow throat and spectacle feathers; olive-green back feathers; two white wing-bar feathers
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Small contour and flight feathers
Yellow Grosbeak
Robust contour feathers, bright yellow with contrasting black-and-white wings