Biology:Malurus

Malurus is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.

Taxonomy

The genus Malurus was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, Motacilla cyanea Latham, the superb fairywren. This is the type species.

Image	Scientific name	Common name	Distribution
120px	Malurus cyanocephalus	Emperor fairywren	New Guinea
120px	Malurus amabilis	Lovely fairywren	North-eastern Australia
120px	Malurus assimilis	Purple-backed fairywren	Central and Western Australia
120px	Malurus lamberti	Variegated fairywren	Eastern Australia
120px	Malurus pulcherrimus	Blue-breasted fairywren	Southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
120px	Malurus elegans	Red-winged fairywren	South-western corner of Western Australia
120px	Malurus cyaneus	Superb fairywren	Australia and lowland New Guinea
120px	Malurus splendens	Splendid fairywren	Central and Western Australia
120px	Malurus coronatus	Purple-crowned fairywren	Northern Australia
119x119px	Malurus alboscapulatus	White-shouldered fairywren	New Guinea
120px	Malurus melanocephalus	Red-backed fairywren	Australia
120px	Malurus leucopterus	White-winged fairywren	Central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia

Former species

Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus Malurus including:

• Wallace's fairywren (as Malurus wallacei and Malurus wallacii)
• Broad-billed fairywren (as Malurus grayi)
• Campbell's fairywren (as Malurus campbelli)

References

• Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2

Wikidata ☰ Q604598 entry