African Penguin vs Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Spheniscus demersus مقارنةً بـ Cicinnurus respublica

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة African Penguin Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
الاسم العلمي Spheniscus demersus Cicinnurus respublica
الرتبة Sphenisciformes Passeriformes
الفصيلة Spheniscidae Paradisaeidae
حالة الحفاظ Endangered Near Threatened
الطول 60,0 cm (23.6 in) 16,0 cm (6.3 in)
طول الجناح 42,0 cm (16.5 in) 19,0 cm (7.5 in)
الوزن 3100,0 g (109.35 oz) 55,0 g (1.94 oz)
النظام الغذائي Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … Fruit and insects gleaned from the forest canopy and subcanopy. Particularly favors figs.
عدد البيض في الوضع 2 --
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
African Penguin 60,0 cm
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 16,0 cm
طول الجناح
African Penguin 42,0 cm
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 19,0 cm
الوزن
African Penguin 3100,0 g
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 55,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

بلا

African Penguin only

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise only

African Penguin

Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of southern Africa. Nests in burrows, under boulders, or in surface scrapes.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Lowland and hill forests on the small islands of Waigeo and Batanta in the Raja Ampat archipelago, Indonesia.

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Song & Call Comparison

African Penguin

الغناء

A loud, donkey-like braying 'waaah-waaah' — hence its nickname 'jackass penguin'. Also gives softer grunts and contact calls at the colony. Highly vocal on breeding beaches.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

الغناء

Male gives a harsh, nasal 'waah' or 'eeah' from display perch. Song is poorly documented in wild. Also produces mechanical rattling wing sounds during display flights.

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Geographic Range & Migration

African Penguin

Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Endemic to the islands of Waigeo and Batanta off the northwestern tip of New Guinea, Indonesia.

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حالة الحفاظ

Endangered

African Penguin

Near Threatened

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Penguin

الريش

Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive black horseshoe-shaped band across the breast. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help with thermoregulation.

المنقار

Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

الريش

Males have a brilliant red back, yellow nape, turquoise blue bare crown, and green breast shield. Violet-blue curled tail wires. Females are brownish with bare blue crown.

المنقار

Short, slightly curved greyish bill

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About These Birds

African Penguin

The African penguin is the only penguin species native to the African continent, also called the jackass penguin for its donkey-like braying call. Their population has plummeted over 95% since pre-industrial times due to egg collection, oil spills, and competition with commercial fisheries for sardine and anchovy stocks.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Wilson's bird-of-paradise is one of the most extraordinarily colored birds on Earth. Males meticulously clear a patch of forest floor as a display court, removing every leaf and twig. The species was virtually unknown to science until the late 20th century due to its restricted island range.

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