Fairy-wrens (Maluridae)
Emperor Fairy-wren (Malurus cyanocephalus) - HBW 12, p. 526
French: Mérion empereur
German: Kaiserstaffelschwanz
Spanish: Maluro Emperador
Other common names: Blue Wren-warbler, Imperial Wren, Blue/Imperial Fairy-wren, New Guinea Blue-wren/Wren
Taxonomy: Todus cyanocephalus Quoy and Gaimard, 1830, Manokwari, Vogelkop, north-west New Guinea.
Originally included with M. grayi and Sipodotus wallacii in a separate genus, Todopsis; later placement in present genus supported by protein evidence. Race bonapartii intergrades with nominate in Geelvink Bay area. Birds from N New Guinea (E from R Mamberamo) described as race dohertyi, but considered inseparable from nominate. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- cyanocephalus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) - Vogelkop E to Geelvink Bay and N lowland New Guinea (E to mouth of R Ramu).
- mysorensis (A. B. Meyer, 1874) - Biak I, in Geelvink Bay.
- bonapartii (G. R. Gray, 1859) - Aru Is, and S lowland New Guinea from Geelvink Bay E to E of Port Moresby.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A very brief view of a female. Locality Kiunga, Papua New Guinea (mainland), New Guinea (ssp bonapartii)
Keith Blomerley 26 August 2008 4 years ago 4 sec 2 -
Poor view of a male hidden in a dense bush. Locality Biak Island, Biak (Schouten) Islands, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua (Indonesia), New Guinea (ssp mysorensis)
Josep del Hoyo 14 July 2008 4 years ago 25 sec 1.3
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A juvenile female, perched in a tree.
Locality Nimbokrang Forest, West Papua (Indonesia), New Guinea (ssp cyanocephalus)
Carmelo López 17 October 2012 28 weeks ago 3.8 -
A perched female bird.
Locality Taja, Jayapura Regency, West Papua (Indonesia), New Guinea (ssp cyanocephalus)
mehdhalaouate 7 July 2007 3 years ago 3.6
- No sound recordings available yet
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