ANIMALS

Discover the Captivating Beauty of Wilson’s Bird of Paradise with The Spectacular Plumage

You don’t have to be a bird enthusiast to appreciate the wonder of birds. They are renowned for their unique features and stunning looks. It’s evident that nature has bestowed birds with remarkable beauty, captivating us whenever we encounter these magnificent creatures. Today, we introduce you to Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, a breathtaking bird that will leave you in awe with its mesmerizing appearance.

Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, scientifically known as Cicinnurus respublica, is a type of songbird that belongs to the Paradisaeidae family.

Image source: Serhanoksay / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Bird of Paradise family consists of 42 different species, categorized into 15 genera. Most of these birds inhabit dense rainforest areas. While many species in this family face the risk of extinction or are endangered, Wilson’s bird of paradise is not currently endangered. However, it is listed as a threatened species and considered at risk due to the loss of its natural habitat.

Image source: priaprameshwara

Similar to other birds of paradise, Wilson’s bird of paradise primarily feeds on fruits and insects, which is why they are commonly found in hilly rainforest areas. These stunning birds are native to Indonesia, specifically the hill and lowland rainforest regions of Waigeo and Batanta Islands, located off the coast of West Papua. Bird enthusiasts have a good chance of spotting these beautiful flying creatures in these areas.

Image source: priaprameshwara

When discussing the birds in the Paradisaeidae family, it is common to highlight the striking appearance of the male birds. They are known for their vibrant and colorful plumage, which is especially remarkable in the case of male Wilson’s birds. These magnificent creatures have predominantly black feathers with eye-catching accents of bright red, a large patch of vibrant yellow on their necks, emerald-like green on their throats, stunning blue feet, and elegantly curved violet tail feathers.

Apart from their stunning and colorful feathers, Wilson’s bird of paradise also boasts a unique feature—a bright, fluorescent blue patch on its head. This naked blue patch is adorned with a distinctive black double cross design. Imagining the sight of these birds in person is truly awe-inspiring.

Image source: Flickr

On the other hand, female Wilson’s birds have a more subdued appearance compared to males. Their feathers are predominantly brownish, with a slightly darker blue crown than their male counterparts. Referring to the appearance of female Wilson birds, the popular bird blog Just Birding once commented: “Don’t feel bad for the drab female because it is this sexual dimorphism that gives her the power to judge the male’s appearance and choose whether he will make a proper father for her offspring, genetically speaking.”

On average, these stunning birds measure around 6.3 inches (16 cm) in length, but males can grow up to 8.25 inches (21 cm) when accounting for their curly tail feathers. In their natural habitat, Wilson’s bird of paradise has a lifespan of 5-8 years, but it can live up to 30 years in captivity.

Image source: IndoGlobal Adventure

One of the well-known characteristics of these birds is their mating behavior. The male Wilson’s Bird of Paradise practices polygamy, which means they do not have a lifelong partner. A male bird can have multiple female partners at the same time. After the eggs are hatched, females take on the responsibility of building and caring for the nests and their offspring. In contrast, males leave the nest and continue to seek new mates. It may seem disloyal, but this is how they behave in nature!

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.