Wilson's Bird of Paradise
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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Wilson's Bird of Paradise | status = Conservation status: Lower risk (nt) | image = Wilson'sBoP.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Field Museum | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Aves | ordo = Passeriformes | familia = Paradisaeidae | genus = Cicinnurus | species = C. respublica | binomial = Cicinnurus respublica | binomial_authority = Bonaparte, 1850 }} The Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Cicinnurus respublica, is a starling-sized red and black bird, that is endemic to the islands of Waigeo and Batanta off western New Guinea. Adorned with yellow mantle on its neck, light green mouth, rich blue feet and two curved violet tail feathers. The head is naked blue with black double cross pattern on it.
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 controversial scientific name of this species was given by Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew and a republican idealist, who unethically described and named the species discovered by others.
Heinrich Agathon Bernstein first discovered this bird on Waigeo island in 1863. Thirteen years after a skin specimen was purchased by British ornithologist Edward Wilson.
Due to habitat loss and exploitation, Wilson's Bird of Paradise is given near-threatened status.
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.