Emperor Fairywren
Malurus cyanocephalus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyMaluridae (Fairywrens and Allies)
- GenusMalurus (Typical Fairywrens)
- SpeciesMalurus cyanocephalus (Emperor Fairywren)
About the Emperor Fairywren
The emperor fairywren (Malurus cyanocephalus) is a species of bird in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae. It is found in New Guinea in its natural habitat of subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is the largest species of fairywren. It is highly sexually dimorphic. Males have a blue and black plumage, with the females having blue and black plumage only on their heads, with the rest of the body being coloured a rusty brown and having a black tail tipped with white. There are 3 recognized subspecies of the emperor fairywren, one from north and northwestern New Guinea, one from Biak Island, and one from south New Guinea and the Aru Islands.
Like other fairywrens, the emperor fairywren is socially monogamous and sexually promiscuous, and is a cooperative breeder. Its nests are made of leaves, ferns, and moss, and laced in bushes at an elevation. Its diet is mostly composed of insects. Foraging occurs in family groups.
The emperor fairywren was originally described by Jean Quoy and Joseph Gaimard in 1830 based on specimens collected by them in northwestern New Guinea in 1827 on a voyage of the Astrolabe. They mistook the specimens as todies... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Raja Ampat
Willie Wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
Helmeted Friarbird
Philemon buceroides
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo javanica
Torresian Crow
Corvus orru
Glossy-mantled Manucode
Manucodia ater
Red Bird-of-Paradise
Paradisaea rubra
Shining Flycatcher
Myiagra alecto
Hooded Butcherbird
Cracticus cassicus
Artamus leucorhynchos
Artamus leucorhynchos
Mimic Honeyeater
Microptilotis analogus
Yellow-faced Myna
Mino dumontii
Olive-crowned Flowerpecker
Dicaeum pectorale
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raja Ampat | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Emperor Fairywren in Raja Ampat?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Emperor Fairywren sighting in Raja Ampat, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Emperor Fairywren in Raja Ampat?
November has the highest sighting rate for Emperor Fairywren in Raja Ampat in our monthly data.