White-shouldered fairywren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-shouldered fairywren |
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The white-shouldered fairywren (scientific name: Malurus alboscapulatus) is a small, colorful bird that belongs to the Australasian wren family. You can find this special bird living in New Guinea.
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Discovering the Fairywren
The white-shouldered fairywren was first officially described by a German scientist named Adolf Bernhard Meyer in 1874. He was the first to give it its scientific name.
This bird is one of eleven different species in the Malurus group, which are all types of fairywrens. It's like they are all part of the same bird family! The white-shouldered fairywren is most closely related to two Australian birds: the red-backed fairywren and the white-winged fairywren. These three birds are often called "bicoloured wrens" because they have two main colors. They don't have fancy head patterns or ear tufts. Instead, they usually have a solid black or blue body with a bright, contrasting color on their shoulders or wings. These three types of fairywrens live in different areas across northern Australia and New Guinea.
The scientific name, alboscapulatus, comes from two Latin words. Albus means "white," and scapulae means "shoulder-blades." So, its name literally means "white-shouldered"! People also call this bird by other names, like the black-and-white fairywren or the white-shouldered wren.
Different Types of White-shouldered Fairywrens
Scientists have found six different types, or subspecies, of the white-shouldered fairywren. These different types live in separate areas and are a bit isolated from each other.
It's interesting because the male birds of all six types look exactly the same. But the female birds look different depending on which subspecies they belong to!
Here are the six recognized subspecies:
- M. a. alboscapulatus: This is the original type, found in north-western New Guinea.
- M. a. aida: You can find this type in north-western and north-central New Guinea.
- M. a. lorentzi: This one lives in western and southern New Guinea.
- M. a. kutubu: This type is found in the high lands of south-central New Guinea.
- M. a. moretoni: This subspecies lives in south-eastern New Guinea.
- M. a. naimii: You can find this type in eastern New Guinea.
What the Fairywren Looks Like
The adult male white-shouldered fairywren is mostly shiny black. The only exception is their bright white shoulders, which are called scapulars. Unlike some other fairywrens, the male doesn't change his feathers to a duller color during certain times of the year. His tail is also shorter than other fairywrens. The male's beak is black, and his feet and eyes are black or dark brown.
The females of two specific types, M. a. alboscapulatus and M. a. naimii, have a cool black and white look. Their upper body is black, but their shoulders and underparts are white.
Where They Live
The white-shouldered fairywren loves to live in lowland areas that have been cleared. You can often spot them in grassy fields, village gardens, and areas with tall cane-grass. They are only found in New Guinea.
