Lovely fairywren
| Lovely fairywren | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Maluridae |
| Genus: | Malurus |
| Species: | M. amabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Malurus amabilis Gould, 1852
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The lovely fairywren (Malurus amabilis), or lovely wren, is a species of
Taxonomy and systematics
It is one of twelve species of the genus Malurus, commonly known as fairywrens, found in Australia and lowland New Guinea. Within the genus it belongs to a group of five very similar species known collectively as chestnut-shouldered fairywrens. The other four species are the variegated fairywren, purple-backed fairywren, red-winged fairywren, and the blue-breasted fairywren.[3] A 2011 analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA found that the lovely fairywren is the sister taxon of the Purple-backed fairywren.[4]
The lovely fairywren was first described by the
Description
Like other fairywrens, the lovely fairywren is notable for its marked sexual dimorphism, males adopting a highly visible breeding plumage of brilliant iridescent blue and chestnut contrasting with black and grey-brown. The brightly coloured crown and ear tufts are prominently featured in breeding displays.[8] The male in breeding plumage has striking azure blue ear coverts, crown and upper back, a black throat and nape, chestnut shoulders and a white-tipped blue tail. The wings are black and the belly white. The female has smoky blue upperparts and tail, with turquoise ear tufts, and dark grey wings, and white below. Both sexes have black bills, brown eyes and flesh-grey feet. Immature birds resemble females but have brown bills.[5]
Behaviour and ecology
Diet
The lovely fairywren is insectivorous and eats several types of insects, including caterpillars.[5]
Breeding
The lovely fairywren is
References
- . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ "Species profile—Malurus amabilis (lovely fairy-wren)". Species information. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Rowley & Russell 1997, p. 159
- ^ Driskell et al. 2011
- ^ a b c Rowley & Russell 1997, p. 165-166
- ISBN 978-1-4081-3326-2.
- ^ "Malurus amabilis (Lovely Fairywren) - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Rowley & Russell 1997, pp. 43–44
- .
Works cited
- Driskell, Amy C.; Norman, Janette A.; Pruett-Jones, Stephen; Mangall, Elizabeth; Sonsthagen, Sarah; Christidis, Les (2011). "A multigene phylogeny examining evolutionary and ecological relationships in the Australo-papuan wrens of the subfamily Malurinae (Aves)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 60 (3): 480–85. PMID 21466855.
- Rowley, Ian; Russell, Eleanor (1997). Bird Families of the World: Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens. Oxford: ISBN 0-19-854690-4.
- Simpson, D.P. (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5th ed.). London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.