Wilson's Bird of Paradise

The Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus respublica, is a small bird, roughly the size of a starling, that is endemic to the islands of Waigeo and Batanta off western Papua New Guinea.

The amazing beauty of their shiny feathers means that these birds are hunted in some areas for their skins. They are also declining slowly through habitat loss.

In the field the blue bare skin on the crown of the bird's head is so vivid that it is clearly visible by night, the deep scarlet back and velvet green breast are lush, and the curlicue tail gleams bright silver.

The first footage of the Wilson's Bird of Paradise ever to be filmed was recorded in 1996 by David Attenborough for the BBC documentary Attenborough in Paradise .

External link

• BirdLife Species Factsheet