Editing Wilson's bird-of-paradise

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Wilson's bird-of-paradise
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Cicinnurus respublica'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22706202A94055998 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22706202A94055998.en |access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
| image = Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise 0A2A1913.jpg
| image_caption = Male
| genus = Diphyllodes
| species = respublica
| authority = ([[Charles Lucien Bonaparte|Bonaparte]], 1850)
| synonyms = * ''Cicinnurus respublica'' (Bonaparte, 1850)
* ''Cicinnurus respublika'' (misspelling)<ref>[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id30259/ Biolib]</ref>
}}
'''Wilson's bird-of-paradise''' ('''''Diphyllodes respublica''''') is a species of [[passerine]] bird of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Paradisaeidae]].

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]]''. He did so by dropping leaves on the forest floor, which irritated the bird into clearing them away.

==Nomenclature==
The controversial scientific name ''respublica'' of this species was given by [[Charles Lucien Bonaparte]], [[Napoleon]]'s nephew and a [[Republicanism|republican]] idealist. The habit of zoologists at that time to dedicate newly discovered species to some king, queen, or aristocrat deeply irritated him. In order to assert his convictions, he chose to name this species ''respublica'' to honour the republic and not the royalty.<ref>Ottaviani, M. (2012). Les Oiseaux de Paradis – Histoire Naturelle et photographies, 320 pages. Editions Prin, France.</ref>

[[Charles Lucien Bonaparte]] described the bird from a badly damaged trade specimen purchased by British ornithologist [[Edward Wilson (1808-1888)|Edward Wilson]]. In doing so, he beat [[John Cassin]], who wanted to name the bird in honour of Wilson, by several months. Thirteen years later, in 1863, the [[Germany|German]] [[zoologist]] [[Heinrich Agathon Bernstein]] discovered the home grounds of the Wilson's bird-of-paradise on [[Waigeo]] Island. 

==Distribution==
An [[Indonesia]]n [[endemism in birds|endemic]], the Wilson's bird-of-paradise is distributed to the hill and lowland rainforests of [[Waigeo]] and [[Batanta]] Islands off [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]].

Due to ongoing [[habitat loss]], limited range, and exploitation, the Wilson's bird-of-paradise is evaluated as Near Threatened on the [[IUCN Red List]] of Threatened Species. It is listed in Appendix II of the [[CITES|Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)]].

==Habitat==
Its preferred habitat is the hill forest at 300 m of altitude, more rarely the lowland rainforest and the middle mountain forest.<ref name=Frith/>

==Description==
Wilson's bird-of-paradise is rather small. Males can reach a length of {{convert|16|cm}} (21&nbsp;cm including central rectrices) and a weight of 53–67 g., while females can reach a length of 16&nbsp;cm, but a weight of 52–60 g.<ref name=Frith>Frith, C. & Frith, D. (2017). [http://www.hbw.com/species/wilsons-bird-paradise-cicinnurus-respublica Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)] Handbook of the Birds of the World.</ref> The male is a red and black [[bird-of-paradise]], with a yellow mantle on its neck, light green mouth, rich blue feet, and two curved violet tail feathers. The head is naked blue, with a black double [[cross]] pattern on it. The female is a brownish bird with a bare blue crown.

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, the [[curlicue]] tail gleaming bright silver.

==Diet==
Their diet consists of fruits, insects, arthropods, and other small invertebrates.

== Rituals of seduction ==
Males of these birds clear an area of rainforest to create a 'display court'. Then they perform an elaborate mating dance to impress a potential mate.<ref>Christina Holvey [http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161116-secret-bird-of-paradise-dance-revealed-for-first-time Secret bird of paradise dating dance revealed]</ref> The male usually exhibits an attractive breast shield and accompanies the mating dance with song and calls.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090921064312/http://www.arkive.org/wilsons-bird-of-paradise/cicinnurus-respublica/ Arkive]</ref>

== Courtship behavior ==
[http://www.birdsofparadiseproject.org/content.php?page=73 Male Wilson’s birds-of-paradise] are the most colorful of all the species within the family, possessing a veritable rainbow of color.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.birdsofparadiseproject.org/content.php?page=73|title=Birds-of-Paradise Project: Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise|website=Birds-of-Paradise Project|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> This remarkable example of hue and iridescence possesses all of the primary colors (and more) in different ways. The baby blue hue of its head is skin, not feathers, and is the result of structural color absent in any other member of birds-of-paradise.<ref name=":0" /> Yellow on the nape of its neck, followed by the crimson on its back are consistent, pigmented colors, present year-round.<ref name=":0" /> Its quirky, "handlebar-mustache-shaped" tail feathers are brilliantly iridescent, reflecting light to produce intense color to the eye of the beholder.<ref name=":0" />

The sexual dimorphism of the species leaves the female very drab in comparison. Sexual dimorphism, or the difference in physical appearance between the sexes, is the result of female selection, in which females select males based upon indirect genetic benefits which increase offspring fitness.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Animal Behavior: Concepts, Methods, and Applications|last1=Nordell|first1=Shawn|last2=Valone|first2=Thomas|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2017|location=New York, New York}}</ref> Because this species is polygynous, where one male mates with multiple females, the female is left on her own to raise young, forcing her to assess these indirect genetic benefits through courtship rituals, details of which are in the following section.<ref name=":1" />

'''Dance'''

While these birds are difficult to locate in the wild and have not been studied in-depth, footage of the few mating rituals that have been witnessed for this species tells all. This species territorially defends a "court" in which it performs its vocalizations and physical maneuvers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australianmuseum.net.au/wilsons-bird-of-paradise|title=Wilson's Bird of Paradise – Australian Museum|website=australianmuseum.net.au|language=en|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> Males will continually work to keep this area free of debris, making sure that nothing on the ground will distract from their displays.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161116-secret-bird-of-paradise-dance-revealed-for-first-time|title=Secret bird of paradise dating dance revealed|last=Holvey|first=Christina|language=en|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> Males will perch on a vertical branch in the middle of their court, flexing their brilliant green fluorescent collar and calling out to females to attract them to their site.<ref name=":0" /> Females who are interested will perch above the male on the branch and watch as he weaves back and forth, calling to her and flexing the fluorescent collar. [http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161116-secret-bird-of-paradise-dance-revealed-for-first-time As was recently discovered] when researchers filmed the dance from the female's perspective, as the male displays, he is basically a brilliant green disc, and the inside of his mouth is fluorescent, making him an astonishing beacon of brilliant color.<ref name=":2" /> This phenomenal display of color demonstrates the power of female sexual selection over male appearance and behavior in the animal kingdom.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="240" heights="180">
File:Wilson's bird-of-paradise on Pulau Batanta, Raja Ampat.jpg|Wilson's bird-of-paradise at Pulau Batanta [[Raja Ampat]], 2015
File:Wilson's bird-of-paradise on Waigeo, Raja Ampat.jpg|Wilson's bird-of-paradise at Waigeo [[Raja Ampat]], 2015
File:Wilson's Bird of Paradise.jpg|Wilson's bird-of-paradise looking around, 2009
File: Diphyllodes respublica.jpg|Illustration of male and female by Daniel Giraud Elliot, 1873
File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - ZMA.AVES.8858 - Diphyllodes respublica Bonaparte, 1850 - Paradisaeidae - skin specimen.jpeg|''Diphyllodes respublica Bonaparte'', 1850. Male skin specimen caught before 1925, [[Waigeo|Waigeo Island]] (Pulau Waigeo), [[Irian Jaya]], Naturalis
File: Paradisaeidae - Cicinnurus respublica.JPG|Museum specimen. [[Batanta]], coll. 1875.07.25 [[Odoardo Beccari]]
File: Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.141017 1 - Diphyllodes respublica (Bonaparte, 1850) - Paradisaeidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg|Female specimen, Batanta, 1865, Naturalis
</gallery>

==Bibliography==
* Beehler, B.M., T.K. Pratt & D.A.Zimmerman 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton University Press. {{ISBN|0-691-02394-8}}.
* Frith, C. B. & Frith, D. W. (2009). Family Paradisaeidae (Birds of Paradise). In del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. & Christie, D. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Vol. 14. pp.&nbsp;404–459. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
* Morten Strange. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Indonesia. — Princeton University Press, 2003. — С. 382. — 416 с. — {{ISBN|978-0691114958}}.
* Ottaviani, M. (2012). Les Oiseaux de Paradis – Histoire Naturelle et photographies, 320 pages. Editions Prin, France.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Diphyllodes respublica}}
{{Wikispecies|Cicinnurus respublica}}
* {{BirdLife|22706202|Cicinnurus respublica}}
* [http://www.educatedearth.net/video.php?id=4952 BBC Video Segment – Wilson's Bird of Paradise]
* [http://www.pbase.com/image/37557333 Wilson's Bird of Paradise Image] at [http://www.pbase.com PBase]
* {{Avibase|name=Cicinnurus respublica}}
* {{InternetBirdCollection|wilsons-bird-paradise-cicinnurus-respublica}}
* {{VIREO|Wilson's+bird+of+paradise|Wilson's Bird of Paradise}}
* {{IUCN_Map|22706202/180775851|Cicinnurus respublica}}
* {{Xeno-canto species|Diphyllodes|respublica|Wilson's bird-of-paradise}}

{{Birds-of-paradise}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q795569|from2=Q27075339}}

[[Category:Diphyllodes]]
[[Category:Birds of the Raja Ampat Islands]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1850]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of New Guinea]]