African Penguin vs Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
Spheniscus demersus comparé à Cicinnurus respublica
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | African Penguin | Wilson's Bird-of-paradise |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Spheniscus demersus | Cicinnurus respublica |
| Ordre | Sphenisciformes | Passeriformes |
| Famille | Spheniscidae | Paradisaeidae |
| Statut de conservation | Endangered | Near Threatened |
| Longueur | 60,0 cm (23.6 in) | 16,0 cm (6.3 in) |
| Envergure | 42,0 cm (16.5 in) | 19,0 cm (7.5 in) |
| Poids | 3100,0 g (109.35 oz) | 55,0 g (1.94 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | 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. |
| Taille de la couvée | 2 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
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.
Song & Call Comparison
African Penguin
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
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
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.
Statut de conservation
African Penguin
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
How to Tell Them Apart
African Penguin
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.
Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip
Wilson's Bird-of-paradise
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.
Short, slightly curved greyish bill
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.