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Species
Malurus alboscapulatus Meyer, AB, 1874
Media
SUMMARY
Distinctive malurid with comparatively short tail. Male nominate race (all seasons) is entirely glossy black, except for white scapulars; iris, bill and legs black. Female has black head and back, narrow white eyebrow and broken eyering, white scapulars, white underside with variable amount of black flecking; iris and bill as male, legs brown. Juvenile is blackish- grey above, including scapulars, whitish below; immature resembles female but duller, and lacks white on scapulars. Races differ in female and juvenile plumages, to which following details refer; naimii is like nominate, but usually with more black on body side, juvenile as in nominate; aida is black like male, but less glossy, wings browner, faint white eyebrow, juvenile all sooty brown; kutubu is black like previous, juvenile undescribed; moretoni is like previous two, juvenile sooty black or grey with white chin; lorentzi female is distinctive has crown grey- brown, narrow white brow and broken eyering, back mid brown, no white on scapulars, creamy- white undersurface, cinnamon on flanks, eyes and bill black, legs brown, juvenile as female but paler, with white markings less distinct.