Melanesian flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melanesian flycatcher |
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Myiagra
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| Species: |
caledonica
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The Melanesian flycatcher (Myiagra caledonica) is a cool little bird that belongs to the monarch-flycatcher family, called Monarchidae. You can find these birds living on islands in a region known as Melanesia.
Meet the Melanesian Flycatcher
The Melanesian flycatcher is a small bird. It is about 13 to 14 centimeters (5 to 5.5 inches) long. That's about the length of a pen! It weighs around 10 to 12 grams (0.35 to 0.42 ounces). That's lighter than a few coins.
One interesting thing about these birds is that the males and females look different. This is called sexual dimorphism. It means you can often tell if a bird is a boy or a girl just by looking at its plumage (feathers).
Bird Families and Names
Scientists like to group animals together based on how they are related. This is called taxonomy. The Melanesian flycatcher is closely related to another bird called the Vanikoro flycatcher. Think of them as cousins!
Sometimes, birds have many different names. The Melanesian flycatcher is also known by names like:
- Broad-billed flycatcher
- Caledonian flycatcher
- New Caledonian flycatcher
It's important to know that the name "broad-billed flycatcher" can be a bit confusing. There's another bird, Myiagra ruficollis, that also goes by that name. So, using the full scientific name, Myiagra caledonica, helps everyone know exactly which bird we are talking about!
Different Types of Melanesian Flycatchers
Just like people can have different family branches, animals can have different "subspecies." A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has small differences, often because they live in different places.
There are five known subspecies of the Melanesian flycatcher:
- M. c. caledonica: This one lives on New Caledonia. It was first described by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1857.
- M. c. viridinitens: You can find this subspecies on the Loyalty Islands.
- M. c. melanura: This type lives in the southern part of Vanuatu.
- M. c. marinae: This one is found in northern and central Vanuatu.
- M. c. occidentalis: This subspecies lives on Rennell Island, which is in the south-eastern Solomon Islands.
Each of these subspecies might have slightly different colors or markings, or live in slightly different habitats, even though they are all Melanesian flycatchers.
