Shining flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shining flycatcher |
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| Male M. a. wardelli | |
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| Female | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myiagra
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| Species: |
alecto
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| Subspecies | |
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See text |
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| Synonyms | |
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The shining flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) is a beautiful bird known for its glossy feathers. It belongs to a bird family called Monarchidae.
You can find these birds in northern Australia. They also live in places like the Moluccas and the Bismarck Archipelago. They love to live in warm, wet places. These include tropical forests and mangrove swamps.
Contents
What Does the Shining Flycatcher Look Like?
The shining flycatcher is a slender songbird. It has a long tail and a thin beak.
The male shining flycatcher is very striking. Its whole body is a shiny, glossy blue-black color. It looks almost like polished metal!
The female looks quite different. Her back is a rich chestnut brown. Her belly is white. She has a black crown on her head and a black face. Sometimes, in dim light, she might look dark all over.
You might confuse her with other birds. These include the Restless and Paperbark flycatchers. But the shining flycatcher has its own unique look.
What Does the Shining Flycatcher Sound Like?
This bird has a clear and pretty song. It sounds like a whistled "towhit-too-towhit." This song helps you identify them in their forest homes.
Bird Families and Names
The shining flycatcher has had a few different scientific names over time. Scientists first described it in a group called Drymophila. Later, some experts placed it in the group Monarcha.
This bird is also known by other common names. People sometimes call it the common shining flycatcher. Other names include shining monarch, shining monarch flycatcher, shining Myiagra, and shining Myiagra-flycatcher.
Different Types of Shining Flycatchers
Within the shining flycatcher species, there are eight different types. These are called subspecies. Subspecies are like different versions of the same animal. They might have small differences in looks or where they live.
Here are the main subspecies and where they are found:
- M. a. alecto: This type lives in the northern and central Moluccas.
- M. a. longirostris: You can find this one on the Tanimbar Islands.
- M. a. rufolateralis: This subspecies lives on the Aru Islands. These islands are southwest of New Guinea.
- M. a. chalybeocephala: This type is found on the western Papuan islands. It also lives in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago.
- M. a. lucida: This one lives on the eastern Papuan islands. You can also find it on the D'Entrecasteaux Islands and Louisiade Archipelago.
- M. a. manumudari: This subspecies lives on Manam Island. This island is off the coast of northeastern New Guinea.
- M. a. melvillensis: This type is found in northwestern and north-central Australia.
- M. a. wardelli: You can find this subspecies in southern New Guinea. It also lives in northeastern and eastern Australia.
Images for kids
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M. a. wardelli, female and nest on the Daintree River, Queensland
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M. a. wardelli, male, showing orange throat
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