Bird+of+the+Week--Wilson's+Bird+of+Paradise

 __Cicinnurus respublica__
(Wilson's Bird of Paradise) __How to Recognize Wilson's Bird of Paradise:__ Male: up to 21 cm long; scarlet back with dark green breast; blue feet and head (head featuring a double cross pattern); distinguishing feature of two violet, curved tail feathers; yellow mantle on the back of the neck; light green mouth Female: light brown bird with blue crown __Wing Span__: unknown  __Life Span__: unknown  __Vocalization__: none recorded  __Habitat __: Indonesia, West Papua; lowland rainforest and hills  __Diet__: fruit and small insects  __Fun Fact__: The controversial scientific name of this species was given by Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew and a republican idealist, who described the bird from a badly damaged trade specimen purchased by British ornithologist Edward Wilson. In doing so, he beat John Cassin, who wanted to name the bird in honor of Wilson, by several months (Wikipedia 2011).  Wilson's Bird of Paradise is a very elusive bird.