Emperor Fairy-wren
Other common names: Blue Wren-warbler, Imperial Wren, Blue/Imperial Fairy-wren, New Guinea Blue-wren/Wren
Taxonomy: Todus cyanocephalus Quoy and Gaimard, 1830, Manokwari, Vogelkop, north-west New Guinea.
The largest fairy- wren - 13-16 cm. Male nominate race (all seasons) has crown light metallic royal blue, forehead, lores and side of head to narrow collar black, upperwing and tail blackish with blue tinges, throat and underparts deep navy- blue; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey- brown. Female has head much as male, upperparts chestnut, tail black with broad white tips, throat deep blue, underparts white
Not Threatened
The largest fairy- wren. Male nominate race (all seasons) has crown light metallic royal blue, forehead, lores and side of head to narrow collar black (no contrastingly coloured ear- tufts); upper black, scapulars and uppertail- coverts deep turquoise- blue, lower back blue- black; upperwing and tail blackish with blue tinges, throat and underparts deep navy- blue; iris dark brown; bill black; legs dark grey- brown. Female has head much as male, upperparts chestnut, tail black with broad white tips, throat deep blue, underparts white; eyes and bill as male, legs mid- brown. Immature is basically like female, but with head dusky black, upperparts rusty- brown, entire undersurface white; young male passes through a female- like plumage before attaining full adult plumage. Races differ only in dapth of coloration; mysorensis is like nominate but has crown light cobalt- blue, female with darker blue crown; bonapartii is somewhat darker than others.
VOICE: Song a reel preceded and followed by sets of 3 notes, frequently given by group while foraging. Contact call “tst- tst- tst- tst”; “tschik” as alarm.
13- 16 cm; 12- 17 g
Taxonomy: Todus cyanocephalus Quoy and Gaimard, 1830, Manokwari, Vogelkop, north-west New Guinea. Originally included with M. grayi and Sipodotus wallacii in a separate genus, Todopsis; later placement in present genus supported by protein evidence. Race bonapartii intergrades with nominate in Geelvink Bay area. Birds from N New Guinea (E from R Mamberamo) described as race dohertyi, but considered inseparable from nominate. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- cyanocephalus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) - Vogelkop E to Geelvink Bay and N lowland New Guinea (E to mouth of R Ramu).
- mysorensis (A. B. Meyer, 1874) - Biak I, in Geelvink Bay.
- bonapartii (G. R. Gray, 1859) - Aru Is, and S lowland New Guinea from Geelvink Bay E to E of Port Moresby.
Dense secondary growth at edges of forest, also forest openings, riversides, roadsides and overgrown gardens.
Arthropods; eats beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), moths (Lepidoptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera) and spiders (Araneae). Items gleaned from leaves, palm fronds and branches, generally within 1 m of ground. Forages noisily in family parties; not known to join mixed species flocks.
Little known. Juveniles recorded Mar- Dec, suggesting breeding in all months of year. Socially monogamous but probably sexually promiscuous (as congeners); remains paired throughout year. Co- operative breeder, frequently with helpers, usually progeny from previous years; generally in pairs or small groups, e. g. four males and one female attending recently fledged young. Only one nest found, gourd- shaped with side entrance, made from strips of fern and leaves woven together with pieces of moss, placed 1 m from ground in a bush contained 4 young. No other information.