Pale-blue monarch
The pale-blue monarch (Hypothymis puella) is a small passerine bird in the family Monarchidae endemic to eastern Indonesia.
Pale-blue monarch | |
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female | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Monarchidae |
Genus: | Hypothymis |
Species: | H. puella |
Binomial name | |
Hypothymis puella (Wallace, 1863) | |
Subspecies | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and systematics
The pale-blue monarch was originally described in the genus Myiagra and then classified as subspecies of the widespread black-naped monarch, Hypothymis azurea, until split by the IOC in 2013 to describe a new species.[1] Some other authourities have not yet adopted this species split.[2] The alternate name Moluccan monarch should not be confused with the species of the same name, Symposiachrus bimaculatus. Additional alternate names for the pale-blue monarch include Pacific monarch (a name shared with the buff-bellied monarch), Pacific small monarch and small monarch.
Behaviour and ecology
The pale-blue monarch is a forest species which builds a small cup nest. It has short legs and sits very upright whilst perched prominently, like a shrike. It is insectivorous, often hunting by flycatching.
References
- "Species 3.1-3.5 « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
- "Hypothymis puella blasii - Avibase". avibase.bsc-eoc.org. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
- "IOC World Bird List 6.3". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.3.