Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise is one of the most colorful birds in the world despite its small size. Males have a red back, golden-yellow nape, black underparts, and a bare, turquoise-blue crown crossed by a double black cross-shaped pattern of feather tracts.

Two curled, glossy violet-blue wire tail feathers extend beyond the short tail. Females, by contrast, are dull with a bare bluish crown but otherwise plain dark plumage, lacking the male's brilliant colors.

Key field marks

• Bare turquoise-blue crown with a black double-cross pattern (visible skin, not feathers)
• Red mantle, yellow nape collar, black underparts on adult males
• Two curled violet wire tail feathers

Similar species

• Most similar to the King Bird-of-paradise but distinguished by the bare turquoise crown, red-and-black body pattern, and violet (not green-disc) curled tail wires
• Extremely limited range (Waigeo and Batanta islands) rules out confusion with mainland New Guinea species

Habitat

Lowland and hill rainforest, favoring areas with a clear understory used for ground-level courtship displays.

Range

Endemic to the small Indonesian islands of Waigeo and Batanta in the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the western tip of New Guinea.

Migration

Non-migratory, restricted to its native island forests year-round.

Behavior

Males clear a patch of forest floor of leaf litter to create a display court, then perform a striking dance below a low display perch, flashing the bright yellow-green mouth lining and puffing out their nape collar to attract females watching from above.

Voice

Sharp, repeated chattering and buzzy notes, along with softer calls given during courtship display.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on small fruits and berries in the forest understory and canopy, supplemented by insects and other invertebrates.

Nesting and breeding

Polygynous mating system; females alone construct the nest, incubate eggs, and raise young with no assistance from males.