Malurus | |
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Male superb fairywren | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Maluridae |
Genus: | Malurus Vieillot, 1816 |
Type species | |
Motacilla cyanea [1] Ellis, 1782 | |
Synonyms | |
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Malurus is a genus of passerine birds in the Australasian wren family, Maluridae.
The genus Malurus was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot to accommodate a single species, Motacilla cyanea Latham, the superb fairywren. This is the type species. [2] [3] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek μαλος/malos meaning "soft" or "delicate" with ουρα/oura meaning "tail". [4]
The genus contains 12 species: [5]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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![]() | Malurus cyanocephalus | Emperor fairywren | New Guinea |
| Malurus amabilis | Lovely fairywren | North-eastern Australia |
![]() | Malurus assimilis | Purple-backed fairywren | Central and Western Australia |
![]() | Malurus lamberti | Variegated fairywren | Eastern Australia |
![]() | Malurus pulcherrimus | Blue-breasted fairywren | Southern Western Australia and the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia |
![]() | Malurus elegans | Red-winged fairywren | South-western corner of Western Australia |
![]() | Malurus cyaneus | Superb fairywren | Australia and lowland New Guinea |
| Malurus splendens | Splendid fairywren | Central and Western Australia |
![]() | Malurus coronatus | Purple-crowned fairywren | Northern Australia |
![]() | Malurus alboscapulatus | White-shouldered fairywren | New Guinea |
![]() | Malurus melanocephalus | Red-backed fairywren | Australia |
![]() | Malurus leucopterus | White-winged fairywren | Central Queensland and South Australia across to Western Australia |
Some authorities, either presently or formerly, recognize several additional species as belonging to the genus Malurus including: