Justification This poorly known species qualifies as Near Threatened because although it is fairly common within its small range it probably has a moderately small population and, since it appears to be replaced by a closely related congener in degraded forest, it is probably undergoing a moderately rapid population decline.

Family/Sub-family Paradisaeidae

Species name author Cabanis, 1888

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

decreasing

-

Yes

Range & population Paradisaea guilielmi is endemic to the Huon peninsula of Papua New Guinea where it is widespread and relatively common. Although it is reported to be tolerant of secondary and degraded forest^1,2,3, forest degradation around Boana village has led to a major decline, coincident with an increase in Raggiana Bird-of-paradise P. raggiana⁴.

Ecology: It inhabits forest from 670-1,350 m, sometimes from 450-1,500 m, throughout the peninsula.

Threats Forest within its range is under continuing threat from both commercial logging and cultivation for the rapidly increasing human population^1,2,3. Forest degradation appears to bring it into contact with the competitively dominant P. raggiana, which eventually replaces it. There appears to be a small demand for its plumes by local people and traders, but leks still survive within villages¹. If it proves to be unable to survive in large areas of logged forest, it could be threatened by any increase in logging, exacerbated by agricultural clearance.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II.

Conservation measures proposed Regularly monitor the population at selected sites. Further research its reported tolerance of degraded forest, and its interactions with P. raggiana. Protect significant areas of remaining primary forest on the Huon peninsula.

References 1. W. Betz in litt. (1999). 2. Coates (1990). 3. Frith and Beehler (1998). 4. P. Gregory in litt. (1999).

Text account compilers Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Andrew O'Brien (BirdLife International)

Contributors W. Betz, Phil Gregory (Fieldguides Incorporated)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Paradisaea guilielmi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums