Emperor Bird-of-paradise vs Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Paradisaea guilielmi compared with Cicinnurus respublica

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Emperor Bird-of-paradise Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Scientific Name Paradisaea guilielmi Cicinnurus respublica
Order Passeriformes Passeriformes
Family Paradisaeidae Paradisaeidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Near Threatened
Length — 16.0 cm (6.3 in)
Wingspan 34.6 cm (13.6 in) 19.0 cm (7.5 in)
Weight 257.5 g (9.08 oz) 55.0 g (1.94 oz)
Diet -- Fruit and insects gleaned from the forest canopy and subcanopy. Particularly favors figs.
Clutch Size 1-2 --
Population Trend — —

Size Comparison

Body Length
Emperor Bird-of-paradise —
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 16.0 cm
Wingspan
Emperor Bird-of-paradise 34.6 cm
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 19.0 cm
Weight
Emperor Bird-of-paradise 257.5 g
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise 55.0 g

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Emperor Bird-of-paradise only

None

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise only

None

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

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

Song & Call Comparison

Emperor Bird-of-paradise

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Song

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.

Geographic Range & Migration

Emperor Bird-of-paradise

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

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

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Emperor Bird-of-paradise

Near Threatened

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

How to Tell Them Apart

Emperor Bird-of-paradise

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Plumage

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.

Bill

Short, slightly curved greyish bill

About These Birds

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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