Birds of Paradise get their fantastical name from their location – the colorful, vibrant jungles of southeast Asia. These birds were given their current-day names in the 19th century by European explorers and colonists who trekked into the tropical jungles. An exotic mix of bright colors, funky feathers, and unmistakable calls, birds of paradise are impossible to miss. Let’s learn about one of these fascinating species with 12 facts about Wilson’s bird of paradise.
12 Facts About Wilson’s Bird of Paradise
1. Wilson’s bird-of-paradise lives on islands.
Indonesia is comprised of thousands of islands, both large and small. On these islands, hundreds of species of birds-of-paradise exist. One such bird is the Wilson’s bird-of-paradise.
It lives in just two places – Waigeo and Batanta islands. These islands are near western Papua New Guinea.
The topography of Waigeo and Batanta provide a mixture of hills, forest, and open woodlands. Since the Wilson’s bird-of-paradise relies on forest to complete its mating ritual and provide fruit, their range is limited to areas with significant numbers of trees.
2. Males and females are sexually dimorphic.
Sexual dimorphism is a phenomenon when the male and female of the same species look different. Males might be bigger, stronger, more colorful, or have especially complicated songs. Females find certain traits more attractive – such as curlicue tail feathers – and mate with the males with the curliest ones. This increases the population of males with curly tails over time.
The Wilson’s bird-of-paradise is a clear example of sexual dimorphism in action. Males have a bald patch of skin on top of their head that is a bright, turquoise blue. Below this on the back of their neck is a bright square of yellow, followed by red down their back and on their wings, and blue legs. Their iridescent green chest feathers can be extended and flashed during displays.
Females share the same blue head patch and blue legs, but their body is a neutral reddish-brown.
3. They can live up to 30 years in captivity.
In the wild, birds-of-paradise have a short lifespan. They are lucky if they survive for five to eight years. In captivity, however, they can live to be up to three decades old!
This is probably because birds-of-paradise are prey animals. Wilson’s bird-of-paradise is a small bird that is eaten by a variety of predators, such as snakes.
4. Males have curlicue tail feathers.
In the process of impressing potential mates, males developed exaggerated and flamboyant tail feathers. Some naturalists liken the feathers to a handlebar moustache.
These feathers serve no function except to woo females, which are more likely to mate with males who have the curliest tail feathers. Their tail is also iridescent, so by wiggling it around it will flash a blueish-white in the light.
You’ll have no difficulty spotting a Wilson’s bird-of-paradise in the jungle. Just look for the characteristic split, spiral curled tail.
5. They eat fruit and insects.
Not much is known about the behavior of the Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, but scientists do know that this small